10.1. Introduction

   Predation and parasitism are examples of antagonistic ecological interactions in
   which one species takes advantage of another species. Predators (see a
   [1]picture) use their prey as a source of food only, whereas parasites (see a
   [2]picture) use their hosts both as a food and as a habitat. Predation and
   parasitism are stage-specific interactions rather than species-specific. Many
   species are predators or parasites only on specific stages in their life cycle.

   Importance of the study of predation and parasitism:
     * In many species predation and parasitism are dominating among ecological
       processes. Dynamics of these populations cannot be predicted and understood
       without considering natural enemies.
     * Pest species of insects and weeds can be suppressed by introduction of
       natural enemies or by inundative release of natural enemies ([3]biological
       control).
     * Natural enemies may cause side effects in pesticide applications. The numbers
       of arthropod natural enemies may be reduced due to pesticide treatment which
       may result in increasing of pest populations.

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   [7]Alexei Sharov 1/12/96

References

   1. http://gnv.ifas.ufl.edu/~fairsweb/images/bi/grelaa6.gif
   2. http://gnv.ifas.ufl.edu/~fairsweb/images/bi/parwac0.gif
   3. http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/ent/biocontrol/index.html
   4. http://alexei.nfshost.com/PopEcol/lec10/predat.html
   5. http://alexei.nfshost.com/PopEcol/lec10/predat.html
   6. http://alexei.nfshost.com/PopEcol/lec10/lotka.html
   7. http://alexei.nfshost.com/~sharov/alexei.html