predation compensation The mechanisms by which a prey population may maintain a constant size despite large fluctuations in the amount of predation. Compensation occurs because intra-specific competition changes with varying predation. When predation increases natural mortality (e.g. from lack of food) decreases and when predation decreases resources must be shared more thinly and natural mortality increases.

predation compensation The mechanisms by which a prey population may maintain a constant size despite large fluctuations in the amount of predation. Compensation occurs because intraspecific competition changes with varying predation. When predation increases, natural mortality (e.g. from lack of food) decreases and when predation decreases resources must be shared more thinly and natural mortality increases.