Animals That Occupy the Top of the Food Chain

KOMPAS.com – Predator are living things that prey on other animals. Predators occupy a higher trophic level than producers in food chain. However, have you ever heard the term apex? predator?

Apex predator are predators at the top of the food chain. The word apex comes from the Latin word meaning “peak”. Thus, apex predators are often referred to as peak predators.

Apex predators are the top consumers in an ecosystem. Their position on the top of the food, making the apex predators are not preyed on by other animals in their environment.

Read also: Food Chains and Levels

The importance of apex predator

Reported from Biology Libretextsapex predators are key species that have a major influence on the balance of organisms in a given ecosystem.

Called key species because apex predators can prevent the growth of species abnormally so that dominance does not occur. This allows apex predators to maintain the diversity and balance of the ecosystem they live in.

However, if the apex predator from one ecosystem is transferred to another ecosystem. This can lead to changes in webs and food chains or the so-called trophic cascade.

This can have an adverse effect on the new ecosystem in the short term. Its ability to maintain or change the balance of the ecosystem is what makes apex predators such a key species.

Read also: Predation and Competition and Examples

Each ecosystem has a different predatory apex. However, generally apex predators are powerful large carnivores. Here are some example of apex predator!

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Sharks are apex predators that live in the ocean. Sharks play a key role in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem and are an indicator of ocean health.

Reported from Oceana Europesharks help get rid of the weak and sick, maintain a balance of competitors, maintain seagrass and coral reef habitats, and ensure species diversity in the ocean.

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