Predator – Prey Relationships 933 P Predator – Prey Relationships

Most marine mammals are predators, but some are also preyed upon by other species. Theoretically, the interaction between marine mammals and their prey infl uences the structure and dynamics of marine ecosystems. Similarly, predators and prey have shaped each other’s behaviors, physiologies, morphologies, and life-history strategies. However, there is little empirical evidence of these infl uences due to the relative scale and complexity of marine ecosystems and the inherent diffi culties of observing and documenting marine mammal predator – prey interactions. I. Evolutionary Time Scales