Lecture 20 - Predation 1

Predation

a trophic interaction in which one organism kills and consumes another

Carnivory

both predator and prey are animals

Herbivory

consumption of primary producers (plants or algae) by primary consumers

Parasitism

one organism (parasite) lives in symbiosis with another organism (host) and consumes nutrients from it resulting in decreased host fitness

Prey switching

when predators concentrate on whatever prey is most abundant

Masting

producing large numbers of seeds in some years and few/no seeds in other years

Compensation

removal of plant tissue stimulates new growth

Secondary compound

toxic chemicals to reduce herbivory, or compounds that attract predators or parasitoids to attack the herbivores

Induced defense

stimulated by herbivore attack