Which example best illustrates predation?

Predation is a biological interaction where one organism, the predator, hunts and consumes another organism, the prey. In this context, the best example of predation is illustrated by a cheetah catching and eating a gazelle. This scenario showcases the essential elements of predation: the cheetah is actively pursuing the gazelle as its food source, demonstrating the predator-prey relationship.

This interaction emphasizes the dynamic nature of predation, where the predator's survival depends on successfully catching prey. Additionally, predation plays a critical role in ecosystem dynamics, influencing population control and the evolution of species over time through natural selection. In contrast, other options either depict different ecological interactions, such as parasitism or competition, rather than the direct predator-prey relationship that characterizes predation.