Competition

Definition

Competition refers to the interaction between organisms or species as they strive for limited resources, such as food, space, and mates. This struggle influences population dynamics and can drive evolution, as species adapt to their competitors. Understanding competition is crucial for analyzing how changes in terrestrial ecosystems affect wildlife populations and interactions.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Competition can limit population growth, as individuals that are outcompeted may struggle to survive or reproduce.
2. Changes in habitat, such as deforestation or urbanization, can intensify competition among wildlife as they seek fewer available resources.
3. Species that have overlapping ecological niches often experience stronger competition than those with more distinct niches.
4. Competition can lead to adaptations in species, promoting traits that enhance their ability to acquire resources or avoid competition.
5. In some cases, intense competition can result in competitive exclusion, where one species outcompetes another, leading to its local extinction.

Review Questions

• How does competition influence the population dynamics of wildlife in changing terrestrial ecosystems?
  • Competition significantly impacts wildlife population dynamics as organisms vie for limited resources like food, shelter, and mates. In changing terrestrial ecosystems, such as those affected by climate change or habitat destruction, increased competition can lead to population declines for some species while allowing others to thrive. Species that can adapt to new competitive pressures may become more successful, whereas those unable to compete may face extinction or relocation.
• Discuss the differences between interspecific and intraspecific competition and provide examples of each.
  • Interspecific competition occurs between different species that compete for the same resources, such as lions and hyenas both hunting similar prey in the savanna. In contrast, intraspecific competition happens among individuals of the same species, like trees competing for sunlight and nutrients in a dense forest. Both types of competition can shape community structures and influence evolutionary processes by selecting for advantageous traits among competing organisms.
• Evaluate the role of resource partitioning in mitigating the effects of competition among species in terrestrial ecosystems.
  • Resource partitioning plays a crucial role in reducing competitive pressures among species by allowing them to utilize different resources or use shared resources differently. This adaptation helps maintain biodiversity within ecosystems by minimizing direct competition, which can otherwise lead to competitive exclusion. For example, different bird species may forage at various heights in trees to access food without overlapping significantly with each other’s feeding habits. Such strategies enable multiple species to coexist in the same habitat while reducing the negative impacts of competition.

Related terms

Interspecific Competition: The competition between different species for the same resources in an ecosystem.

Intraspecific Competition: The competition among individuals of the same species for resources within their shared environment.

Resource Partitioning: The process by which competing species use different resources or use shared resources in different ways to reduce competition.