How do predators help in maintaining species diversity in a community?

How do predators help in maintaining species diversity in a community?
  1. By reducing the intensity of competition among competing prey species
  2. By increasing the intensity of competition among competing prey species
  3. By eliminating all species except the predator species
  4. By eliminating the prey species

Solution

Predators help in maintaining species diversity in a community by reducing the intensity of competition among competing prey species. This allows different prey species to coexist and maintain the overall diversity of the community. An example of this can be seen in the rocky intertidal communities of the American Pacific Coast where the starfish Pisaster acts as an important predator and helps in maintaining species diversity by reducing the intensity of competition among competing prey species.

Asked in: NCERT

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