Question

Briefly discuss five factors that influence predator choice?

Availability

Search time vs. handling time

Energy value

Nutrient value

Level of toxins

Answer 1

Availability of prey is very much important for a predator to eat it. If prey is not available, the predator will not get its food and it will eventually die or it have to shift its food habit.

The predator always want to reduce the search time and handling time what he employed for a prey. If handling time and search time is more for capturing a prey, more energy will be lost of the predator and it will capture less number of prey.

Energy value of predator is more important . The predator always want to use less energy for capturing its prey. or his may predators have employed camoflauge and waits for its prey. Even many predators attract their prey so that he cannot use his own energy to capture the prey.

The predator choose its prey which have more nutrient value, because from that prey, predator will get more energy and the essential ingredients for its growth and body maintenance.

Predators always avoid the preys which have toxins in their body. This will cause damage to the predator if they eat the part. Many predators avoid the part of the prey body which contain the toxic material. So predator always choose no or less toxin producing preys.