Predator and Prey Relationships
There are many different Predator vs. Prey relationships in the Everglades but I am just going to focus on three very important ones. In predator vs. prey relationships there is usually an direct relationship. The more predators there are that means that the numbers of prey are going to decrease. As the number of predators decrease the number of prey will increase because they will be at a lower risk.
1. Great Blue Herons and the Mayan Cichlid. Great Blue Herons are important predators of fish in the aquatic ecosystems where they live. In the Everglades the Great Blue Herons can become victims to the American alligators. The Great Blue Herons have to compete with other birds and bigger predators for food in the Everglades. As the number of the green herons increase the number of Mayan Cichlid will decrease. As the number of the green herons decrease the number of Mayan Cichlid will increase.
2. American Alligator and the Gulf Toadfish. The American Alligator is the biggest predator in the Everglades and eats a wide variety of organisms. The Gulf Toadfish is just one of the possible prey for the American Alligator. As the American Alligator numbers grow in the population the number of gulf toadfish will decrease because there are more predators that can eat them. The number of prey will decrease as the number of predators increases in this relationship. The other side is that as the number of predators decrease the number of prey will increase because less of them will die.
1. Great Blue Herons and the Mayan Cichlid. Great Blue Herons are important predators of fish in the aquatic ecosystems where they live. In the Everglades the Great Blue Herons can become victims to the American alligators. The Great Blue Herons have to compete with other birds and bigger predators for food in the Everglades. As the number of the green herons increase the number of Mayan Cichlid will decrease. As the number of the green herons decrease the number of Mayan Cichlid will increase.
2. American Alligator and the Gulf Toadfish. The American Alligator is the biggest predator in the Everglades and eats a wide variety of organisms. The Gulf Toadfish is just one of the possible prey for the American Alligator. As the American Alligator numbers grow in the population the number of gulf toadfish will decrease because there are more predators that can eat them. The number of prey will decrease as the number of predators increases in this relationship. The other side is that as the number of predators decrease the number of prey will increase because less of them will die.