Predation:

Predation is an ecological interaction where the predator feed on its prey. Predator is nothing but an animal that hunts and prey is the animal hunted by predator. Predator can either engulf or attack prey. i.e. predator may or may not engulf the prey. Ultimately predator kills the prey or consumes the tissues of its prey. At times, it feeds on dead organism.

Feeding habit:

There are two types of predator feeding behavior. First Parasitic organism kills the host organism then they lay eggs on host species for their progeny to feed on its putrefying dead body. Here predator has a direct impact on animals hunted by predators. Second type of feeding is they simply consume whatever is available to them without any direct impact on the donor organism.

Types of predation:

Ecological interaction between predator and prey is classified in to four types based on their functions.

• True predation
• Grazing
• Parasitism
• Parasitoidism

True predation: The predator’s which certainly attack and kill the prey is true predators. Sometimes predator has to wait for the prey to attack, it is referred to as ambush predators. For instance lion and tiger are true predators.

Grazing: Grazing organism may or may not kill the prey. For instance starfish, zooplanktons are grazing organisms.

Parasitism: They form a close relationship with the host organism. It can also be referred to as symbiosis. For instance elephant, cholera and mistletoe are parasitism.

Parasitoidism: Organisms which live on or in the host result in death of the host. It is similar to parasites in having close relationship with the hosts. Death of prey is rare. For instance wasp, diptera and coleopteran are Parasitoidism.

Stages of predation:

Predators attack the prey in four stages

• Prey detection
• Attacking
• Detain
• Consumption

Ecological benefit:

This approach helps in dominance of single population. Balance of organisms is brought by keystone species. It also helps in maintaining hydrological functioning.  Microbial loop is formed when the food generated by primary producers are consumed by flagella and cilia. This microbial loop produces nutrients and minerals. It helps in reaching the higher tropic level of ecosystem. Predator’s helps in preventing the pathogenic organism entering the environment by acting as host reservoirs. This reduces the infection to human population by ingestion.

The outcome may or may not be fatal depending on the behavior of feeding and individual prey. The beneficial result is widely spread across all over and at times critical in determining the nature of environment.