ecology
: a predator at the top of a food chain that is not preyed upon by any other animal
The archipelago also harbors some of the highest densities in the world of so-called apex predators, the sharks, groupers and jacks who have no natural predators of their own but whose numbers have been depleted elsewhere by fishermen.—
Christopher Pala, New York Times, 19 Dec. 2006 As apex predators, brown bears are secure throughout most of their range, but habitat loss not only threatens populations, but has led to an increase in human/bear encounters.—Ryan Elswick, Myrtle Beach (South Carolina) Sun-News, 18 Oct. 2001
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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