Changes

==Origin==

==Origin==

Classical Latin ''praedātor'' plunderer, pillager, robber, [[person]] or [[animal]] that goes after prey, [[hunter]], ravisher. Compare Middle French, French ''prédateur'' plunderer (1574), person who lives on booty or plunder (1745), [[animal]] that preys on other animals (1909)

Classical Latin ''praedātor'' plunderer, pillager, robber, [[person]] or [[animal]] that goes after prey, [[hunter]], ravisher. Compare Middle French, French ''prédateur'' plunderer (1574), person who lives on booty or plunder (1745), [[animal]] that preys on other animals (1909)

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1912 1912]

*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1912 1912]

==Definition==

==Definition==

*1: one that preys, destroys, or devours  

*1: one that preys, destroys, or devours  

==Description==

==Description==

In [[ecology]], '''predation''' describes a biological [[interaction]] where a '''predator''' (an organism that is [[hunting]]) feeds on its '''prey''' (the organism that is [[attacked]]). Predators may or may not [[kill]] their prey prior to feeding on them, but the [[act]] of predation often results in the [[death]] of its prey and the eventual [[absorption]] of the prey's tissue through [[consumption]]. Other categories of consumption are [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbivory herbivory] (eating parts of plants) and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detritivore detritivory], the consumption of dead organic material (detritus). All these consumption categories fall under the rubric of consumer-resource systems. It can often be [[difficult]] to separate various types of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_feeding_behaviours feeding behaviors]. For example, some parasitic species prey on a host organism and then lay their eggs on it for their offspring to feed on it while it continues to live or on its decaying corpse after it has died. The key characteristic of predation however is the predator's direct [[impact]] on the prey population. On the other hand, detritivores simply eat dead organic material arising from the decay of dead individuals and have no direct [[impact]] on the "donor" organism(s).

In [[ecology]], '''predation''' describes a biological [[interaction]] where a '''predator''' (an organism that is [[hunting]]) feeds on its '''prey''' (the organism that is [[attacked]]). Predators may or may not [[kill]] their prey prior to feeding on them, but the [[act]] of predation often results in the [[death]] of its prey and the eventual [[absorption]] of the prey's tissue through [[consumption]]. Other categories of consumption are [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbivory herbivory] (eating parts of plants) and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detritivore detritivory], the consumption of dead organic material (detritus). All these consumption categories fall under the rubric of consumer-resource systems. It can often be [[difficult]] to separate various types of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_feeding_behaviours feeding behaviors]. For example, some parasitic species prey on a host organism and then lay their eggs on it for their offspring to feed on it while it continues to live or on its decaying corpse after it has died. The key characteristic of predation however is the predator's direct [[impact]] on the prey population. On the other hand, detritivores simply eat dead organic material arising from the decay of dead individuals and have no direct [[impact]] on the "donor" organism(s).

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_pressure Selective pressures] imposed on one another often leads to an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolutionary_arms_race evolutionary arms race] between ''prey'' and ''predator'', resulting in various [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antipredator_adaptation antipredator adaptations]. Ways of classifying predation surveyed here include grouping by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trophic_level trophic level] or diet, by specialization, and by the nature of the predator's interaction with prey.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predator]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_pressure Selective pressures] imposed on one another often leads to an [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolutionary_arms_race evolutionary arms race] between ''prey'' and ''predator'', resulting in various [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antipredator_adaptation antipredator adaptations]. Ways of classifying predation surveyed here include grouping by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trophic_level trophic level] or diet, by specialization, and by the nature of the predator's interaction with prey.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predator]

[[Category: Biology]]

[[Category: Biology]]