Preys
Prey refers to an organism that is hunted and consumed by another organism, called a predator. In ecological usage, the term prey functions as both singular and plural, but the form preys is uncommon as a noun; it appears as the third-person singular of the verb prey on, as in "the predator preys on small mammals."
Prey and predators form integral parts of food webs. Predator–prey interactions influence population sizes, species distributions,
Prey employ a variety of defenses: rapid movement, camouflage, schooling or flocking to reduce individual risk,
Humans study prey–predator dynamics to understand ecosystem health, manage wildlife and pests, and inform conservation. Overexploitation,
Notable prey groups include small mammals, insects, fish, and herbivorous vertebrates. Common predators include carnivores, birds