What is the term for an interaction in which one organism captures and feeds on another organism?

What is the term for an interaction in which one organism captures and feeds on another organism?

• A. Parasitism
• B. Competition
• C. Predation
• D. Cooperation

Answer: (C)

The correct term for an interaction in which one organism captures and feeds on another organism is predation. In this relationship, the organism that captures and consumes the other is known as the predator, while the organism that is consumed is known as the prey. Predation is a fundamental aspect of many ecosystems and plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance of population sizes among different species. In contrast, parasitism involves one organism benefiting at the expense of another, but it typically does not lead to the immediate death of the host. Competition refers to the struggle between organisms for the same limited resources, such as food, water, or space, which does not involve direct capture and consumption. Cooperation describes interactions where organisms work together for mutual benefit, which is quite different from the predatory relationship. This distinction clarifies why predation specifically describes the interaction of one organism feeding on another.

The correct term for an interaction in which one organism captures and feeds on another organism is predation. In this relationship, the organism that captures and consumes the other is known as the predator, while the organism that is consumed is known as the prey. Predation is a fundamental aspect of many ecosystems and plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance of population sizes among different species.

In contrast, parasitism involves one organism benefiting at the expense of another, but it typically does not lead to the immediate death of the host. Competition refers to the struggle between organisms for the same limited resources, such as food, water, or space, which does not involve direct capture and consumption. Cooperation describes interactions where organisms work together for mutual benefit, which is quite different from the predatory relationship. This distinction clarifies why predation specifically describes the interaction of one organism feeding on another.