In a new study, experts believe that introduced, or "alien," predators are more dangerous than native predators because their prey are naïve to the hunting tactics of alien predators.
In contrast, where predators and prey have coexisted for long periods, prey often respond by developing behaviors and defenses such as camouflage coloring that prevent detection or help them escape an encounter with a familiar predator.
The revelation of these findings provides a challenge of how to create the best programs to protect native species from predation. Scientists believe that more frequent contact between predator and prey populations has made prey populations less naïve to alien predators by exposing them to similar predator behaviors. Ongoing predation pressure means that remnant populations of prey are very vulnerable to extinction from other pressures such as diseases and habitat loss.
Particular measures should be taken to help protect prey from alien species.
More information on this topic can be found here: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/03/070314093316.htm
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I have also read articles discussing this topic. I assume the prey will eventually adapt to the predation tactics of these species; however, it will be a race between adaptation and competition. In other words, if the species dies out from extinction before they have the ability to adapt to this new predator, this ability to adapt serves no purpose.
I am not really sure if I can see where scientists will be able to increase the speed of adaptation. This seems to be a time consuming process.
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