In zoology Zoology, also spelled zoölogy, is the branch of biology that focuses on the structure, function, behavior, and evolution of animals. The zoologist's pronunciation of "zoology" is /zoʊˈɑlədʒɪ/, though a common spelling pronunciation is /zuːˈɑlədʒɪ/, cannibalism is the act of one individual of a species consuming all or part of another individual of the same species as food. Cannibalism is a common ecological Ecology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of life processes explaining adaptations, external relations and interaction among organisms, the flux of materials and energy through living communities, the successional development of ecosystems, and the abundance and distribution of biodiversity in context of the environment. Ecologists are interaction in the animal kingdom and has been recorded for more than 1500 species[citation needed] (this estimate is from 1981, and likely a gross underestimation).
Unlike previously believed, cannibalism is not just a result of extreme food shortage or artificial conditions, but commonly occurs under natural conditions in a variety of species.[1][2][3] In fact, scientists have acknowledged that it is ubiquitous in natural communities. Cannibalism seems to be especially prevalent in aquatic communities, in which up to ~90% of the organisms engage in cannibalism at some point of the life cycle. Cannibalism is also not restricted to carnivorous species, but is commonly found in herbivores and detritivores Detritivores, also known as detritus feeders or saprophages, are heterotrophs that obtain nutrients by consuming detritus . By doing so, they contribute to decomposition and the nutrient cycles.[4]
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