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What is an Apex Predators: Definition, Examples and their Role in Environment

An “Apex predator” can be defined as the specie of the animals that are at the top of their perspective food chain. They can also be defined as the “top predators” of their food chain. The predators can be characterized the by their ability to hunt and feed on the wide range of prey without being hunt by other animals.

Unlike the other animals of the ecosystem “Apex predators” are not preyed by other animals.  This position distinguish them from all the other animals and they play a vital role in shaping their perspective ecosystem.

Apex Predators On the Basis of Trophic Dynamics

Trophic dynamics(also known as trophic interactions) can be defined as the “transfer of energy and the nutrients through different level of the food chain or food web within a ecosystem”. It involves movement of energy from one organism to other organism as they consume each other. Apex predators occupy the highest level in trophic dynamics as there are no other animals who consume them.

Apex Predators and Their Role in Environment

Apex predators are also called the “keystone species” as the have a big impact on their environment. As they are the top most predators of their environment they play a vital role in shaping their eco-system.

• Regulation the population: By hunting (mostly herbivores) they control their population in an eco-system. Predators also help plant to grow and not get depleted by controlling their population. Without predators certain species could overpopulate leading to imbalances and irreversible damage to eco-system. As one scientist said “If you want keep your ecosystem safe you have to focus on well-beings of predators”
• Biodiversity: Through their hunting pattern apex predators support biodiversity. Through preying one specie they support the development of the other species.
• Evolution of Prey: Presence of predators helps forming different behavior in prey. Their behavior got affected by predators. That affects the feeding and movement pattern of the prey. This behavior building causes the evaluation and strategy building in prey to avoid being caught.
• Scientific Insights:  Studying predators provides valuable information and insights about the functioning of an ecosystem. Researchers study their behavior, their hunting pattern and their interactions with other animals to study the complex  web of life. That can help in making informed and clear decisions ab0ut the ecosystem.

Top 5 Examples of Apex Predators

Here are top 3 examples of the apex predators from different ecosystems.

Polar Bears:  Apex Predators of Sea Ice

Polar bears are  the “Apex predators of the Sea Ice”. Polar bears are iconic apex predators that rule the Acratic region. Living in “Acratic region” shows their iconic capability to live in nature’s hardest conditions. In Arctic region they wait for hours (they are also call as patient hunters) near breathing hole using their smell and instinct to detect seals’ presence. When seals come out of the hole for breathing the catch them abruptly that shows their impressive hunting skill.

Orcas: Predators of Ocean

Orcas are the apex “predators of the ocean”. Orcas are magnificent marine mammals also known as “Killer whales” rule the ocean.  Their intelligence, social skills and their ability to hunt makes them the supreme predators of the marine and help them in holding the special place in marine ecosystem.

Orcas are at the top of the food chain of the marine ecosystem. Their multifarious diet includes fish, squid, seabirds, and even other marine mammals like seals, sea lions, and smaller whale species.

Golden Eagle: Apex Predators of Sky

Golden eagles are the majestic birds of the prey that commands the skies with its strong eyesight and lethal ability to killing its prey. As an apex predators “Golden eagles” holds a special place in maintaining and balancing terrestrial ecosystems.

Golden eagles have the gift of exceptional eye sight allowing them to spot their prey from great heights. Their sharp talons and strong helps them to catch a variety of animals from birds, small mammals to even reptiles.