Predator-prey relationships have long been a central topic in the research of animal ecology. Predators employ various predation strategies to capture prey and influence prey population dynamics, thereby affecting the stability and balance of entire communities and ecosystems through trophic cascade effects. Preys, in turn, adopt diverse anti-predator strategies to mitigate the intensity of predation. However, the mechanisms underlying the selection of predator predation strategies and prey anti-predator strategies, as well as how their interactions influence trophic cascade effects, have not been sufficiently studied. Through a literature review and data collection, this study summarizes and categorizes the predation strategies of predators and the anti-predator strategies of ungulates as preys and analyzes their main drivers. On this basis, this study explores the current research status regarding the relationship between anti-predator strategies of ungulates and predator-induced trophic cascade effects. The related articles published from 2009 to 2024 were retrieved from Chinese and English academic databases, with keywords such as “anti-predator strategies”, “ungulates”, and “trophic cascade”, supplemented by snowball sampling. After reviews and modeling studies were excluded, 244 articles were included. Information on study location, species, strategies, habitat, and methods was extracted. Predators were classified into ambush and coursing types based on predation mode, and ungulate anti-predator strategies were categorized into ten types (e.g., spatial/temporal avoidance, vigilance, and fleeing). Species biological information was supplemented through databases like Species2000. Differences in variables such as predator strategy, habitat type (open/non-open), prey/predator body mass ratio, predator group size, and prey anti-predator strategies were analyzed. Specifically, independent samples T-tests (including traditional and Welch’s T-tests) were used for categorical vs. quantitative variables, and Pearson’s chi-square test for associations between categorical variables. The proportion of studies addressing trophic cascades was calculated to analyze its relationship with anti-predator strategies. A total of 244 studies were analyzed (Americas: 38.5%; Africa and Europe: 24.2% each). The most frequently studied predator was the Wolf (Canis lupus, 34.4%), and the most studied ungulate was the Red Deer (Cervus elaphus, 20.5%). The primary research methods were GPS satellite tracking (40.2%) and automatic infrared camera trapping (19.2%). Key findings revealed that the prey/predator body mass ratio differed significantly between coursing (6.235 ± 5.129) and ambush predators (2.855 ± 1.774) (T = 2.201, df = 19, P = 0.040), with coursing predators targeting relatively larger prey. Predator strategy was significantly associated with sociality (χ² = 9.731, df = 1, P = 0.002): ambush predators were predominantly solitary, whereas coursing predators were more often social (Table 1). Habitat type significantly influenced predator strategy (χ² = 7.013, df = 1, P = 0.008): ambush strategies were more common in non-open habitats (e.g., forests), while coursing strategies predominated in open habitats (e.g., savannas) (Table 2). Ungulate anti-predator strategies varied with predator type: they more frequently employed temporal avoidance and “human shields” (prey utilize predator aversion to humans by inhabiting areas or periods with high human disturbance to evade predators or access resources) against ambush predators, and relied more on fleeing against coursing predators (Table 4). Habitat openness significantly affected ungulate strategy choice: ungulates in open habitats more frequently used vigilance, clustering, fleeing, and adjusted foraging strategies (P < 0.05, Table 5). However, due to factors such as sampling bias and human disturbance, a direct link between anti-predator strategies and trophic cascades could not be definitively established from the existing literature. This study indicates that predators select their predation strategies based on habitat landscape features, while ungulates flexibly adopt different anti-predator strategies by weighing risk against fitness benefits, considering both habitat openness and predator type. Although this study systematically outlines the patterns and drivers of predation and anti-predator strategies, limitations including research biases, anthropogenic disturbances, and sample size constraints prevent the clear demonstration of a direct impact of anti-predator strategies on trophic cascades. Future work should strengthen empirical research on trophic cascades within predator-prey relationships, delve deeper into the ecological cascade consequences of predation and anti-predator behaviors, and pay more attention to the role of human activities in shaping these interactions and their ecological effects.