See also: Predatory (homonymy)

A predatory is a Living organism which captures alive Proie S to nourish or feed its offspring of it.

This situation is very current in nature and the relations between prey and predatory determine an organization in the food networks, with at its top of the predatory absolutes (which are not themselves the prey of other predatory). The predatory ones influence dynamics predatory/preys and thus the populations of the preys. They contribute to maintain the balance biological of the ecosystems.

One distinguishes as follows:

• the predatory basic ones: they nourish several species, their population is relatively stable, and they contribute to exert a continuous assessment on the level of the populations of preys.

• the predatory ones of shocks: they are nourished of one or a small number of species. The appearance of these predatory in great number involves a collapse of the populations of preys.

For example, Anthocoris sp. has a behavior of predator of shock on the larval populations of Psylle of the pear tree ( Psylla pyri ), whereas the Miride S play a part of predatory basic. The effect of predation of shock is exploited within the framework of the biological Lutte against the harmful Organizations, in particular with introductions of predatory into greenhouses of vegetable cultures.

In order to reduce the use of the phytopharmacological Produced , one of the principles of the Lutte reasoned against the harmful organizations is to support the maintenance and of development of the predatory organizations, of the parasite S and the Parasitoïde S of the enemies of the cultures.

Nature presents a considerable variety of methods of predation. Let us quote only some of them:

• large terrestrial carnivores (as the Félin S) precipitate on their preys or continue them to kill them by smothering or rupture of the vertebrae.
• Certains insects as the Guêpe S paralyze the preys which they intends for their larvae.

Term of predatory is not to confuse with concept of Depredater , which indicates an animal which makes damage on a plant or food products, generally with an aim of nourishing itself.

Synchroprédation

Some species drive out in group or Essaim S or have synchronized and adapted behaviors which leave less chance to their preys to escape to them. (See illustration opposite starting from vidéos taken in situ by the laboratory ATOLL).

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