What is apex predator list?

An apex predator, also known as an alpha predator or top predator, sits at the top of the food chain and has no natural predators of its own within its ecosystem. These animals play a crucial role in maintaining the balance and health of their environments by controlling the populations of other species.

Key characteristics of apex predators include:

• High trophic level: They occupy the highest trophic level in their food web. This concept is related to <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/trophic%20level" >trophic level</a>.
• Regulation of prey populations: By preying on herbivores and other carnivores, they prevent overgrazing and maintain biodiversity. This aspect is related to <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/prey%20populations" >prey populations</a>.
• Influence on ecosystem structure: Their presence or absence can significantly affect the structure and function of the entire ecosystem.
• Vulnerability to environmental changes: Due to their position at the top of the food chain, they are often more susceptible to habitat loss, pollution, and other environmental threats.
• Examples: Some well-known examples include the <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/great%20white%20shark" >Great White Shark</a> in marine ecosystems, the <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/lion" >Lion</a> in African savannas, and the <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/polar%20bear" >Polar Bear</a> in Arctic regions.
• Keystone Species: Apex predators can be considered <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/keystone%20species" >keystone species</a>, meaning their impact on their ecosystem is disproportionately large relative to their abundance. The loss of a keystone predator can cause a trophic cascade.