What factor can dampen the severity of population cycles between a primary predator and prey?

Answer

The presence of alternative prey species for the predator

If a predator has alternative food sources, it can switch diets when the preferred prey becomes scarce, which dampens the expected crash of the primary prey species.

What factor can dampen the severity of population cycles between a primary predator and prey?
populationEcologyPredatorregulationprey