Question

Apart from being part of the food chain, predator’s play other important roles. Mention any two such roles supported by examples.

Answer 1

Hint: Food chain has different trophic levels. It is a series of organisms in which the energy is transferred from one trophic level to another.

Complete answer:
Let us take a simple example explaining the role of predators in the food chain.

A.Plants prepare their own food with the help of photosynthesis.
B.Herbivores eat plants as their food. Ex. deer
C.Carnivores eat small animals as their food. Ex. tiger, lion

In the above food chain, there were three trophic levels. Energy is passed from one to another. The top one is occupied by predators. They eat other animals that belong to lower trophic levels.
Other two important roles played by predators are:
1.Predators are an important part of the ecosystem. They are both advantageous and disadvantageous. Predators hunt other animals. They often hunt for old, weak and sick animals. Those animals are not able to escape for long and hence are hunted before. Death of sick and vulnerable animals leaves more food for the strong and fit ones. Animals that graze in herds are often hunted by predators. As a result, the herd animals will live in fear and they will graze less which will allow more bushes and trees,grass to grow.
For ex. Antelope,zebras and giraffes.

2.Predators reduce the competition between prey species which in turn helps in maintaining the diversity of species. It helps to keep the population limited. For ex. Hunting animals of large species.

Note: There are namely four kinds of species interaction: predation, mutualism, commensalism and competition.