Are humans the number 1 predator? (2023)

Are humans the number 1 predator?

Based on that definition, the answer is no — humans aren't top-predators because we don't eat everything we kill. Related: What's the first species humans drove to extinction? Bonhommeau and colleagues at IFREMER set out to determine humans' position on the food chain, also known as their trophic level.

“Humans are perhaps unique among apex predators in their ability to influence ecosystems through simultaneously directly reducing large carnivore, mesopredator and herbivore populations and by impacting their behaviour by creating a landscape of fear for all three trophic levels,” writes Dorresteijn et al. (2015: 6).

Introduction. Humans have assumed the role of 'super predator' in animal communities globally, killing terrestrial carnivores at rates as much as nine times higher than their natural predators [1].

The strongest land animal in the world is the elephant. The typical Asian elephant has 100,000 muscles and tendons arranged along the length of the trunk, enabling it to lift almost 800 pounds. The gorilla, the strongest as well as largest primate on the planet, is at least six times stronger than the average human.

Most humans have instincts to be both predator and prey, but I believe that criminals have primarily predator instincts -- and that they cannot help but follow them.

Megalodon is the deadliest predator of all time, 58-60 feet long and weighing many tons.

The World's Food Chain

Right above them are herbivores, such as rabbits, cows and deer, which have a trophic level of 2. Next come the omnivores that eat a mixture of plants and herbivores. That's where humans rank, with a trophic level of 2.2. Above us are carnivores, such as foxes, that eat just herbivores.

Strictly speaking, humans are the smartest animals on Earth—at least according to human standards.

Why are humans the dominant species?

Humans control the planet because they are the only animals that can cooperate both flexibly and in very large numbers. Now, there are other animals, like the social insects - the bees, the ants - that can cooperate in large numbers, but they don't do so flexibly.

Using metrics as diverse as tool use and acidity of the stomach, they concluded that humans evolved as apex predators, diversifying their diets in response to the disappearance of most of the megafauna that had once been their primary source of food.

Wild animals are afraid of humans. Studies have shown that even apex predators change their eating patterns and habits when they perceive humans to be around. We are the only super predator that exists on this planet.

Humans specialized in taking down gigantic prey more than 2 million years ago, according to the new hypothesis. The first humans were mega-carnivores who took down prey with savvy hunting skills, a controversial new study suggests.

Humans have certainly had a profound effect on their environment, but our current claim to dominance is based on criteria that we have chosen ourselves. Ants outnumber us, trees outlive us, fungi outweigh us. Bacteria win on all of these counts at once.

Rats and house cats were the easiest presumed pushovers, with two-thirds of participants claiming they could see one off, while grizzly bears, elephants and lions were rightfully respected – only 2 per cent of pollsters claimed they would be able to take one down.

Although humans still possess most of the instincts of our primal ancestors, other instincts have adapted and evolved, which override the older reactions. In our decision-making process, individuals are more likely to react in primal ways only in extreme situations.

Lions are big cats, and like all big cats, they avoid humans. Since we're not their prey or natural predators (some lions do occasionally eat people), it's more that we're simply far too large for them to consider us as anything but an unusual threat.

It may come as a surprise that many animals, including some apex predators, are terrified of humans. According to scientists, it's because we're big and loud and 'novel' to them. And so to protect themselves, they try to avoid us as much as possible.

The World's Food Chain

Right above them are herbivores, such as rabbits, cows and deer, which have a trophic level of 2. Next come the omnivores that eat a mixture of plants and herbivores. That's where humans rank, with a trophic level of 2.2. Above us are carnivores, such as foxes, that eat just herbivores.

Are humans at the top of the animal kingdom?

Humans can move on their own and are placed in the animal kingdom. Further, humans belong to the animal phylum known as chordates because we have a backbone. The human animal has hair and milk glands, so we are placed in the class of mammals. Within the mammal class, humans are placed in the primate order.

Humans control the planet because they are the only animals that can cooperate both flexibly and in very large numbers. Now, there are other animals, like the social insects - the bees, the ants - that can cooperate in large numbers, but they don't do so flexibly.

Strictly speaking, humans are the smartest animals on Earth—at least according to human standards.

Genetic studies have demonstrated that humans are still evolving. To investigate which genes are undergoing natural selection, researchers looked into the data produced by the International HapMap Project and the 1000 Genomes Project.

Animals with no natural predators are called apex predators, because they sit at the top (or apex) of the food chain. The list is indefinite, but it includes lions, grizzly bears, crocodiles, giant constrictor snakes, wolves, sharks, electric eels, giant jellyfish, killer whales, polar bears, and arguably, humans.