The topic that has intrigued me the most so far in the semester is Chapter 12 on Predation. This chapter included the several types of trophic interactions in which one species consumes another species. We categorized the different types of predator-prey relationships into carnivory, herbivory, and parasitism, and investigated the effects of selective pressures that the predator and prey species have on each other. This subject interests me because it is a basic topic I have been taught since Middle School in biology, however it is far more complex than I originally thought, so I am excited to continue to learn further details. There is an issue currently about rodent pesticides having not only a drastic effect on rodent populations but this also causing harm to the predator birds. I will be working with predator birds this summer, and the ones who are impacted by the decline in rodents, so it will be interesting to apply what I am learning about selective pressures and populations dynamics to this field.
Learning about predation has changed my view on ecology because I did not realize the extent that species can adapt in response to selective pressures. Herbivores and predators exert selective pressures on prey such as armor exterior, appearing toxic, physical defenses, or mimicry. But then predators and herbivores adapt to overcome prey defenses through physical features (snakes can unhinge jaw, eat anything), toxins, mimicry (crypsis), or detoxification. So it is interesting to see the reason certain species have particular phenotypes is because of these predation selective pressures.
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