Apex predator
Definition
An apex predator is a top-level predator in an ecosystem that has no natural predators itself. It typically resides at the highest trophic level and plays a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance.
Analogy
Picture an undefeated champion in sports who dominates all opponents without ever being defeated. Similarly, an apex predator stands at the top of the food chain without any natural predators.
Related terms
Keystone species: A species that has a disproportionately large impact on its environment relative to its abundance.
Trophic cascade: The indirect effects of changes in the population of one species on other trophic levels within an ecosystem.
Biodiversity: The variety and variability of living organisms present in a particular habitat or on Earth as a whole.
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