All articles tagged with #predator prey relationship
A study reveals that early humans like Homo habilis were still preyed upon by predators such as leopards around 1.75 million years ago, challenging previous beliefs that humans had already become top predators by that time.
A new study reveals that two species of bacteria reversed their predator-prey relationship after one species was grown at a lower temperature. The predatory bacterium Myxococcus xanthus switched roles with Pseudomonas fluorescens, becoming the prey when the latter was grown at a cooler temperature. The researchers found that temperature influenced the production of a lethal substance by P. fluorescens, leading to the reversal of predator-prey roles. This study sheds light on the impact of ecological factors on microbial predation and highlights the importance of historical context in evaluating predator-prey relationships.
The declining population of Tasmanian devils, caused by a contagious tumour disease, is impacting the genetics of the spotted-tailed quoll, a smaller predator. The study found that as devil numbers decrease, quolls in affected regions become more genetically similar, with evidence of genetic selection in response to changes in devil numbers. This shift in genetic variation and reduced genetic exchange among quoll populations could lead to lower genetic diversity and potential evolutionary consequences.