Introduction
The world is undergoing various transformations in order for all species to adapt to the inevitable changes on the environment. This has led to cases of inventions and innovations as human beings strive to find better ways of fitting in the society.
On the other hand all other living things are undergoing evolution albeit at a very minimal level in order to enable them fit in the environment (Katz 2009). In the ecosystem various food chains and webs continue to change as competition between preys continue to rise. This essay evaluates the evolution of predator and prey pairings and how it leads to the evolution of prey species.
In ecology a predator is defined as an animal or organism that feeds on other organisms while the prey is the victim (Scott 2010). The relationship between predator and prey is important in order to ensure there is a balance between the prey and predator populations. Predators play an important role of ensuring that the prey population is regulated to avoid overpopulation.
However, recent studies have revealed a strange pairing of predators and preys due to continuous adaptations that threaten the existence of prey in any ecosystem. This is due to the fact that the predators are evolving at a faster rate than their preys. It should be understood that all organisms need to evolve at the same rate given the fact that they reside in the same ecosystem.
This is revealed in the relationship between the lion and the Thompson gazelles in a case study done in one of Africa’s game parks known as the Serengeti located at the Kenya Tanzania border. The study revealed that lions have become faster and developed high sensitivity in order to hunt gazelles with ease.
As the park continues to undergo changes due to global warming gazelles are adapting slower than lions and this enables the later to stand higher chances of survival compared to the former. The study revealed that the association between the lions and the gazelles ought to be balanced and efforts are being made to ensure the gazelle population is kept constant to avoid their extinction.
Given the fact that prey and predator pairings threatens the survival of the prey there are other external factors that contribute to the elimination of the prey species (Bothman 2010). All these organisms live in the same ecosystem and are thus subjected to the same environmental conditions.
Whenever these conditions threaten the existence of species they do not do so in isolation of the prey or predator alone. These conditions threaten the lives of both groups of organisms and coupled with the feeding behavior of the predators the preys are therefore subjected to a higher risk of getting extinct compared to the predators.
However, the populations of predators face great risks from other factors that may help in reducing chances of prey extinction due to the fact that as more predators continue to be killed by diseases, poaching and forest fires their population reduces.
Therefore, there will be fewer predators feeding on the prey and this gives the population of the later higher chances of increasing. It is estimated that within the next twenty years almost twenty percent of animals living in various regions of the world will become extinct if proper interventions are not put in place.
Conclusion
Human intervention in the ecosystem plays an important role of ensuring all species of living things are protected against extinction. More research needs to be conducted to ensure protective measures are taken to protect all endangered species.
References
Bothman, J. (2010). Carnivore Ecology in Aroid Lands (Adaptations of Desert Organisms). New York: Springer Publishers.
Katz, R. (2009). Evolution. New York: Createspace Publishers.
Scott, J. (2010). Evolution. Stamford: Cengage Learning.