Predator Satiation

Definition

An adaptation in which prey briefly occur at high population densities which overwhelms and satisfies predators thereby reducing the probability of an individual prey being eaten. The most notable example of this are the periodic cicadas.

Origin

First proposed as a concept referring to cicadas from a 1993 research paper by Williams, Smith, and Stephen.

Everyday Use

We encounter many examples where we are overwhelmed and can't possibly attend to everything, whether a lengthy to-do list or work requests. The trick is to not let there be so many that we lose our balance with the demands on our time. Conversely, we can use the "too many to get them all" mentality to our benefit, when applying to jobs, working to get published, and more generally making returns on our hard work.