Animals living together
Animals do not live alone in the world. They meet, help and sometimes struggle against each other. The way living things affect one another is called interaction. Understanding these interactions helps us see how nature stays balanced.
Key idea
A predator is an animal that hunts other animals for food. A prey is an animal that is hunted and eaten.
Competition
When animals need the same things, they take part in competition. They may compete for food, water, space or a mate. If there is not enough food, only some animals will get what they need.
Example
A lion (predator) hunts a zebra (prey). Both may also compete with others of their kind for food and water.
Helping each other
Some interactions help both animals. Bees visit flowers to get food, and at the same time they help the plant. Many animals also live in groups, such as herds or flocks, to stay safe from predators. In a group, more eyes can watch for danger, and it is harder for a predator to catch just one animal. In this way, animals depend on one another to survive.