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Predator-prey reversal is a biological interaction where an organism that is typically prey in the predation interaction instead acts as the predator. A variety of interactions are considered a role reversal. One type is where the prey confronts its predator and the interaction ends with no feeding. Two competing predators may interact and the larger predator will prey on the smaller. Smaller organisms may prey on larger organisms. Changing population densities may trigger a role reversal. In addition, adult prey may attack juvenile predators. ==Evolution theories== According to Georgia Institute of Technology research,〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.news.gatech.edu/2014/05/04/evolution-species-may-reverse-predator-prey-population-cycles )〕 prey and predator roles have cycles where the prey population may increase, thereby causing the predator population to increase as well. But sometimes the predator population overwhelms the prey to the point of devastating the prey population, subsequently resulting in a devastation of the predator population. Some studies indicate that the roles of each may become reversed to the point that prey begin to eat the predators. Using data collected regarding mink-muskrat, gyrfalcon-rock ptarmigan, and phage-Vibrio cholerae relationships, research was done to determine if a theory proposed by researchers at GIT could explain how and why this occurs. Joshua Weitz, a professor at Georgia Tech’s School of Biology, said that particular phenotypes can show up as dominant depending upon changes in the environment around them. When both predator and prey are evolving at the same time, and the predator population has drastic effects on prey, the prey may realize they have the ability to overcome smaller numbers of predators and evolve to a predator-type role. Knowing how specific species interact with each other in this way enables scientists to study the impact of this on ecosystems in more advanced ways than with numerical data alone. They are able to determine why broad trends happen in ecological systems.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Predator-prey reversal」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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