What is predation?

Predation refers to a biological interaction where one organism, the predator, feeds on another organism, the prey, usually leading to the death of the prey. This relationship is crucial for regulating population dynamics within ecosystems, impacting various aspects of ecological balance. By hunting and consuming prey, predators help control prey population sizes, promoting biodiversity and the overall health of the ecosystem. The process of predation plays a key role in the food chain, influencing species distributions and behaviors.

The other relationships described in the options represent different ecological interactions. For example, mutualism is characterized by two species benefiting each other, often through resource sharing or other cooperative behaviors. Competition involves two organisms vying for the same limited resources, which can lead to resource depletion and affect survival. Lastly, parasitism describes a relationship where a parasite benefits at the expense of a host, typically causing harm to the host without necessarily leading to its death. Understanding these distinctions is essential for grasping the complex interactions that define ecosystems.