predator prey relationships

• what is the name given to the features of organisms that help them against predators, or better enable them to catch prey?

  adaptations
• state the stages in a predator prey cycle

  • stage 1- increase in the prey provides more food for the predators, so more survive and reproduce. Therefore the predator populations increase
  • stage 2- increased predators, eat more prey, causing decline in prey population. Death rate of the prey is greater than the birth rate
  • stage 3- reduced prey population can't support the large predator population, fewer predators survive
  • stage 4- reduced predator numbers result in less of the prey population being killed. More prey organisms survive, increasing prey population, cycle repeats

  
• why are graphical displays of predator prey populations not a completely accurate representation of how population sizes fluctuate?

  other factors influence population size- like availability of food or the presence of other predators, or seasonal changes in abiotic factors