compare contrast essay

Chelsea Borek

Kerr

EN101-5

10-6-10

Predator and Prey

            Predators and prey have a hostile but necessary relationship. The word predator comes from the Latin word praedari, meaning to plunder.  A predator is defined as any organism that lives by preying on and consuming other organisms (“Predator – AlphaDictionary”). The prey of predators are animals that are hunted and killed for food and this term originated from the Latin word praeda, meaning to be seized as plunder (“Definition of Prey”). Both predators and prey use camouflage to avoid detection from each other in order to ensure their own survival. Predators use camouflage to surprise their pray, while the prey uses camouflage to hide from or deceive the predators.  This dynamic can be found between humans, animals, and man-made objects.

            Camouflage is important for people when they are the prey. In the 2002 film based on a true story, Catch Me If You Can, the lead character, Frank, took advantage of camouflage in order to con and avoid the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).  Frank used mimicry to change his identity and make himself less easily detected by the FBI. Constantly changing identities made it difficult for the agents to follow Frank’s record. Throughout the film, Frank posed as a pilot, a doctor, and even a secret service agent. By pretending to be a person other than himself, Frank could hide in plain sight. When Frank came face to face with the FBI agent tracking him, he was able escape by posing as secret service agent that had also been searching for Frank. By camouflaging himself quickly, Frank was able to elude the FBI for several years (“Catch Me If You Can”). People also use camouflage when they are the predators. When hunting deer, people wear camouflage to blend in with the trees and sneak up on their prey. Deer are more likely to run away when they detect motion. The hunter’s camouflage attire breaks up their lines, making movements less noticeable. The hands and head are the most important parts to keep camouflaged. This is because, while hunting, the person’s hands and head are the most frequently moved parts of the body. Camouflage allows the hunter to spot its prey, without the deer knowing the predator is there (“Camouflage for the Hunter”). Both the convict and the hunter use camouflage to hide more effectively.

            Animals use camouflage to avoid predators or to attack their prey. Prey rely on camouflage to survive and not become food. Leaf butterflies mimic leaves to avoid a bird’s radar. Their coloring is the same as that of a dead leaf. The insect even has a body shaped like the stem of a leaf. Birds pass right by the butterfly, because it looks more like a dead leaf than a butterfly (“Howstuffworks”).  Predators rely on camouflage to surprise and attack their food. Turtles use mimicry to trick their prey because a turtle’s shell closely resembles a rock. Underwater, fish will pass by the turtle, as long as the turtle remains still. When fish swim by the “rock” and get close enough, the turtle can strike. This is beneficial for the turtle because it almost ensures that it will have a meal (“Howstuffworks”). Mimicry is one form of camouflage that is effective for animal survival.

            The military is well known for camouflaging objects. Camouflage is important for a strong and surviving military. The United States military has the ability to camouflage an entire estate. Camp David is a very well hidden presidential retreat located in the Catoctin Mountains. Constructed of wood from local trees, Camp Davis blends in with the surrounding forest. Instead of looking like the typical grand retreat, Camp David looks more like a log cabin with a rustic feel (“Camp David”). Not even depicted on area maps, Camp David is camouflaged so well that tourists, the media and most importantly terrorists cannot locate the president’s hide away. The Unites States Military also has the technology to make its machinery virtually undetectable. Stealth technology creates our military’s best predators. The concept of Stealth was created to make air craft more difficult for enemies to detect. The designers of this genius camouflage discovered that by redirecting electromagnetic waves from radar, the aircraft became invisible. Radar-absorbent material was also made to reduce or block radar signals that bounced off from the surface of planes (“Stealth Technology”). An aircraft that is not easily detected by an enemy’s radar can infiltrate the prey’s territory.

            Camouflage is essential for the survival of both predators and prey. For humans, and the objects they create, camouflage is a consciously designed effort to help them become better predators and hide from potential dangers. An animal’s camouflage is a natural covering that assists them in avoiding their predators or sneaking up on their prey. Whether human, wildlife, or object, camouflage is an excellent method for survival.

           

Works Cited

"Camouflage for the Hunter." Real Bucks by Real Hunters. Deer Hunting by Deer Hunters. Web. 04 Oct. 2010. <http://www.pabucks.com/huntingcamouflage.html#Camouflage for the Hunter>.

"Camp David | A History of the Presidential Retreat." Infoplease: Encyclopedia, Almanac, Atlas, Biographies, Dictionary, Thesaurus. Free Online Reference, Research & Homework Help. — Infoplease.com. Web. 03 Oct. 2010. <http://www.infoplease.com/spot/campdavid1.html>.

Catch Me If You Can. Dir. Steven Spielberg. Perf. Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks. Dream Works SKG, 2002. DVD.

"Definition of Prey from Oxford Dictionaries Online." Oxford Dictionaries Online - English Dictionary and Thesaurus. Web. 02 Oct. 2010. <http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/prey?view=uk>.

"Howstuffworks "11 Animals That Use Camouflage"" Howstuffworks "Animals" Web. 03 Oct. 2010. <http://animals.howstuffworks.com/animal-facts/11-animals-that-use-camouflage.htm/printable>.

"Predator - AlphaDictionary * Free English On-line Dictionary." AlphaDictionary * Free English Online Dictionary * Word Games. Web. 02 Oct. 2010. <http://www.alphadictionary.com/goodword/word/predator>.

"Stealth Technology : Who, What, Where, When." Serving History :. Web. 04 Oct. 2010. <http://www.servinghistory.com/topics/Stealth_technology>.