Question

How can a predator’s preference of prey impact competition in an ecosystem?

Answer 1

Resource availability and predation are believed to affect community dynamics and composition. Although the effects of resource availability and predation on prey communities are usually studied in isolation, these factors can also have interactive effects, especially since the outcome of competition under shared predation is expected to depend on resource availability. However, there are few experimental studies that test the interactive roles of resources and predation on dynamics of more complex multispecies communities. Here, we examine the importance of competition and predation on microbial community dynamics in a resource pulse environment.

Answer 2

Prey preferences may either increase competition or result in no impact

Step-by-step explanation:

If two predators have a preference for the same prey it means both will suffer and might reduce in number due to limited resources. On the other hand if these predators have varying preferences of prey competition between them will not exist.