Question

Read the following statements w.r.t. predation and select the two wrong statements
(i) Predators help in maintaining species diversity in a community.
(ii) Predators in nature are prudent.
(iii) Predators cannot reduce the intensity of competition among competing prey species.
(iv) Predators do not act as conduits for energy transfer across trophic levels.

• A. i and ii
• B. iii and iv
• C. i and iii
• D. ii and iii

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

If a predator is too efficient and overexploits its prey, then the prey might become extinct and following it, the predator will also become extinct for lack of food. This is the reason why predators in nature are ‘prudent’. Prey species have evolved various defenses to lessen the impact of predation. Predators also help in maintaining species diversity in a community, by reducing the intensity of competition among competing prey species. Besides acting as ‘conduits’ for energy transfer across trophic levels, predators play other important roles. They keep prey populations under control.