Ecology: Concepts and Applications 4th Edition by Manual Molles

Exercise 1

Predation is one of the processes by which one organism exploits another. Others are herbivory, parasitism, and disease. What distinguishes each of these processes, including predation, from the others? We can justify discussing these varied processes under the heading of exploitative interactions because each involves one organism making its living at the expense of another. By what "currency" would you measure that expense (e.g., energy, fitness)?