Predator Saturation

Selection may lead a species to produce so many seeds or offspring that consumers cannot possibly eat them all. This is reinforced by making the vulnerable stage available for short periods of time, separated by long periods of unavailability.

Examples of predator saturation include fruit and seed producing trees such as bamboos in southeast Asia which “mast” producing large crops of fruits and/or seeds at several-year intervals. The adult stage of many mayfly species is present for only a few days in the spring; a very large number of individuals emerge. The mayflies are tasty to a variety of birds, but the birds cannot eat them all, leaving enough to reproduce and lay eggs. Cicada species are hidden underground through most of their life cycle, species which emerge as adults once every few years (a seven year cycle is common) saturate their potential predators.