Timeline for answer to Can mutual predation between apex predators be sustainable? by Nuclear Hoagie
Current License: CC BY-SA 4.0
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| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
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| 9 hours ago | comment | added | Mon | As per the above post about the impracticality of two species being each others primary food source the only practical solution is to make one of the species a primary food source for the other on a seasonal basis. For example salt water crocodiles are apex predators of their ecosystem but there are plenty of other predators that feast on their eggs or hatchlings during the breeding season. In addition apex predators will 'prey' on the young of other predators in an attempt to eliminate/reduce local completion for other food sources both species share. Think lion hunting leopards leopards. | |
| 21 hours ago | comment | added | Nuclear Hoagie | @Ejw I think there'd be a strong pressure to go for the easier meal. One of the species must get most of their calories elsewhere, I think any predation "up the food chain" would be fairly opportunistic and perhaps not well characterized as a true predator-prey relationship. | |
| 21 hours ago | comment | added | JBH | @Ejw Also consider a google search for "problems with eating apex predators" (although Nuclear Hoagie's "there aren't enough predators..." argument is spectacular). | |
| 21 hours ago | comment | added | Ejw | That makes a lot of sense, thank you. I wasn't considering the energy transfer aspect of it. Would making one or both of the predator species omnivorous with abundant fruit/vegetables change the equation at all? Or would that just encourage selection to eat the plant matter and avoid the other predator? | |
| 21 hours ago | history | answered | Nuclear Hoagie | CC BY-SA 4.0 |