Predator-Prey Interactions

All organisms need energy to survive. For example, gazelles are herbivores that feed on plants. On the other hand, cheetahs are carnivores that hunt gazelles. This predator–prey interaction is called predation, in which the cheetah acts as the predator and gains energy by consuming the gazelle, its prey.

A predator uses a range of sensory adaptations to detect prey, depending on the species. These may include sight, smell, and hearing. Specialized physical features, such as teeth or claws in cheetahs, allow the predator to capture and consume the prey.

As prey evolve traits to avoid predation, predators also evolve traits that improve hunting success, such as the cheetah’s increased speed.

For example, some birds have evolved exceptional eyesight, including color vision, which helps them locate and hunt prey. A defense called crypsis helps prey avoid visual detection by blending into their environment. For example, peppered moths have colors and patterns that match the bark and branches of their host trees.

In other cases, prey do not hide. For example, monarch butterflies show their toxicity with bright, patterned wings. This warning coloration, called aposematism, acts as a visual cu