An apex predator, also known as a 'top predator', is an animal at the top of a food chain that has no natural predators. Apex predators help maintain the balance of ecosystems by controlling the population sizes of prey species, which in turn affects the abundance of plants or other organisms within the food web. Examples include carnivores such as lions, sharks, and eagles, and in some ecosystems, omnivores such as humans. In GCSE Biology, apex predators are studied to illustrate predator-prey relationships, trophic levels, and interactions within ecosystems.
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