In an ecosystem, predation is 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 the prey and the eventual absorption of the prey's tissue through consumption. Thus predation is often, though not always, carnivory. Other categories of consumption are herbivory (eating parts of plants), fungivory (eating parts of fungi), and 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 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 in 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). COUNT 12
QSN1 What must a species do in order to be classified as a predator? ANS1 direct impact on the prey population QSN2 How would you describe a predator that primarily eats plants? ANS2 herbivory QSN3 A predator must do what to the prey after it is killed?  ANS3 absorption of the prey's tissue through consumption QSN4 A species that uses a host body to survive and reproduce is classified as a what? ANS4 parasitic species QSN5 How would you describe a diet of a species that eats primarily dead organic material?  ANS5 detritivory QSN6 What does an herbivore eat? ANS6 plants QSN7 Do detritivores have a direct impact on "donor" organisms? ANS7 no QSN8 What term is given to an organism that is being hunted? ANS8 prey QSN9 What term is given to the biological interaction where a predator feeds upon prey? ANS9 predation QSN10 What is the key characteristic of predation? ANS10 the predator's direct impact on the prey population QSN11 What do detritivores eat? ANS11 dead organic material QSN12 What is the key characteristic of predation? ANS12 predator's direct impact on the prey population