Apex consumers
Definition
Apex consumers are organisms at the top of the food chain that have no natural predators. They play a crucial role in maintaining the balance and health of ecosystems by regulating the populations of other species.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
- Apex consumers are also known as top predators or alpha predators.
- They help control the population of herbivores and other secondary consumers, preventing overgrazing and depletion of vegetation.
- Examples include lions, sharks, and eagles.
- The removal of apex consumers can lead to trophic cascades, which significantly alter ecosystem structure.
- Apex consumers often have longer lifespans and slower reproductive rates compared to organisms lower in the food chain.
Review Questions
- What is an example of an apex consumer in a terrestrial ecosystem?
- How do apex consumers influence the population dynamics within an ecosystem?
- What could be a consequence of removing apex consumers from an ecosystem?
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Related terms
Trophic Level: A position that an organism occupies in a food chain, which is determined by its feeding relationships.
Secondary Consumer: An organism that primarily eats primary consumers or herbivores.
Trophic Cascade: A series of changes in population sizes at different trophic levels caused by the addition or removal of a key species, often an apex consumer.
