what is an apex predator

An apex predator, also known as a top predator, is a predator at the top of a food chain, without natural predators of its own. They are usually defined in terms of trophic dynamics, meaning that they occupy the highest trophic levels. Apex predators are important in nature conservation because they have powerful effects on other predators, herbivores, and plants. They can control prey numbers and limit smaller predators, and their removal can have knock-on effects on the entire ecosystem, including the landscape. Apex predators can be seen to balance an ecosystem, and as such, they are an important concern for conservationists. Some examples of apex predators include grizzly bears, whale sharks, polar bears, saltwater crocodiles, Komodo dragons, tigers, and lions. Large predatory whales, including the killer whale, and the largest predatory sharks, such as the white shark and tiger shark, are often considered to be the apex predators in many marine environments.