How do predators balance prey in ecosystems?

Answer 1

The simple answer is - they don't. The "balance" to which you refer is just a matter of where things settle out. While the various species are "balancing", some may die out in the environment, some may thrive, some may overpopulate to a detrimental level. The point at which the population levels of the various species stops changing is basically the balance point. It all depends on the resources available and the fitness of each species for obtaining the resources it needs to survive and reproduce. If conditions change, during a drought for example, then the species are going to go through that balancing process again. Some might die out. Heck, they might ALL die out. Different species might thrive. In other words, there is no guarantee that nature will support a given balance of species within a certain environment. Predator/prey, mutualism, and parasitism (and commensalism, etc.) are strategies species use to try to make themselves more fit and able to survive and reproduce.

Depending on conditions, some of these strategies are more beneficial than others.

Answer 2

Most animals that are considered "prey" (mice, deer, small birds, etc.) are heterotrophs, meaning they get their food from somewhere as opposed to producing it themselves. If there aren't very many predators for a certain species in an ecosystem, and there are enough resources to support the species, it will boom, causing a sharp decline in available resources (i.e. food, water, shelter). This will lead to a drop in the population of the species, if not outright extinction. Predators keep the population of a species down so there will be enough resources to continue supporting that population.

Answer 3

Predation maintains balance by ensuring only a healthy number of organisms are in a particular ecosystem.

In a simple example, wolves keep deer population at a level that prevents the deer from over grazing, which in turn would effect not only the plant population, but also the organisms that depend on those plants.

Answer 4

Predators play a crucial role in controlling prey populations in an ecosystem through predation. By keeping prey populations in check, predators help maintain a balance in the ecosystem. The availability of prey also influences the population size and behavior of predators.