Who or what is a "predator"?

The term "predator" refers specifically to a person or animal that hunts and preys on other animals for food. This ecological role involves capturing and consuming other organisms, which plays a crucial part in maintaining the balance within an ecosystem. Predators are often characterized by their ability to stalk, hunt, and seize their prey, making them essential for controlling the population of other species. In a broader sense, the notion of predation can also extend to various interactions where one entity exploits another, but fundamentally, it aligns with the concept of hunting and feeding relationships in nature. The other options do not accurately capture this definition; for instance, supporting others or protecting endangered species does not involve the predatory actions that define a predator.