Question

Apart from being a part of the food chain, predators play other important roles. Mention any two such roles supported by examples.

Answer 1

Predators play an important role in:

1. Maintaining the prey population: Predator feeds on prey and keeps a check on any overgrazing by herbivores, which might ultimately lead to an unbalanced ecosystem. For example, if carnivores are removed from a forest, herbivores will multiply rapidly. This would result in rapid destruction of herbs and grasses in the forest and ultimately the whole forest.

2. Indicating ecological disturbances: Predators are small in number and highly sensitive to ecological changes. For example, Gharials are extremely adapted to their freshwater habitat. They start dying rapidly and in large numbers as soon as a river starts getting polluted, thus indicating ecological disturbances.