collocation · neutral
apex predator
UK/ˈeɪ.peks ˈprɛd.ə.tər/US/ˈeɪ.peks ˈprɛd.ə.tɚ/AP·ex PRE·da·tor
an animal at the top of a food chain with no natural predators
Examples
“Tigers are often described as apex predators in their habitats.”
“The removal of apex predators can cause major imbalances in ecosystems.”
“Apex predators help control herbivore populations, which maintains vegetation.”
Band 8 sentence
“The eradication of apex predators such as wolves has triggered trophic cascades that altered the whole landscape.”
Collocations
- be an apex predator
- apex predator population
- the loss of apex predators
Word family
Common mistakes
apex predators→an apex predator
the apex predator is important for protect ecosystem→the apex predator is important for protecting the ecosystem
top predator→apex predator
Say it for a higher band
5predator→6top predator→7+apex predator
Synonyms
top predator
top-level predator
Easily confused
top predator
“Sharks are often referred to as the top predators of many marine ecosystems.”
keystone species
“Sea otters are considered a keystone species because they control sea urchin numbers.”
Related words
Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.
In Nature & Animals
Learn it with its set