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Competition

22.1K views02:34 min

Ecosystems contain many organisms, but they have a limited amount of the resources needed for survival and reproduction.

Competition is an interaction between individuals that happens when resources like food, water, shelter, and mates are limited.

Competition can be categorized by the identity of the organisms involved—either intraspecific, within the same species, or interspecific, between different species. It can also be categorized as direct or indirect competition based on whether the organisms interact directly or indirectly.

Competition is more likely to happen when there is an overlap between ecological niches. Organisms with similar niches need many of the same resources, while those with very different niches may not compete at all.

Interspecific competition happens when individuals of different species, such as coyotes and wolves, compete for a common resource, such as prey or territory. In territories where gray wolf and coyote populations overlap, competition between the two species may limit the number of coyotes within those territories.

One possible consequence of interspecific competition is competitive exclusion. If two species compete for the same limiting resource over time, one species may outcompete the other.

The weaker competitor may need to adjust its behavior to use other resources within its niche. For example, coyotes may move to a new territory away from gray wolves or, over many generations, evolve to occupy a different niche. Otherwise, they may die out.

Intraspecific competition, on the other hand, happens between individuals of the same species. This type of competition is common because individuals occupy the same niche in the ecosystem and require the same resources.

Direct competition happens when individuals of the same or different species interact directly. For example, two male antelopes fight for the opportunity to mate with a female. In this mechanism, one individual prevents others from using a resource, in this case, a mate. Marking territory is another behavior that helps control access to a resource.

Indirect competition happens when individuals use up a shared resource, leaving less available for others. For example, elephants and other animals use a common water source, such as a pond. Elephants may drink more water, leaving less available for other animals.

Overview

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When organisms require the same limited resources within an environment, they may have to compete for them. Competition is a net-negative interaction. Even if two competing individuals or populations do not interact directly, the overall fitness of both competitors is lowered as a result of not having full access to the limited resource.

Intraspecific competition, which occurs between individuals of the same species, serves as a natural mechanism for regulating population size. Too much population growth can lead to crowding and diminished resources. Stronger members of the population may outcompete weaker individuals for resources, leading to reduced reproduction or death for the weaker individuals and keeping the population size in check.

Competitive exclusion may occur as a consequence of competition between species, where one is better suited to use a resource and forces out the other, but this is not the only possible outcome when a resource is not abundant. Organisms can also find ways to share limited resources. Competing populations may engage in resource partitioning, dividing the resource in a spatial manner by keeping to non-overlapping territories or using the resource at different times of the day. Alternatively, one population might differentiate its niche so that it no longer has to compete.

Many similar species of anole lizard coexist on islands around the Caribbean Sea, and the anoles of each island avoid competition with each other by residing in slightly different locations within their habitat, an example of spatial resource partitioning. The lizards then prey only upon the insects that enter their preferred territory, effectively dividing up available food sources. This diminishes competition for food and reduces direct conflicts between the different species.

Ultimately, competition provides an evolutionary selection pressure both within and between species when resources are not plentiful, forcing organisms to adapt or risk dying out if they cannot successfully compete.

Transcript

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Ecosystems contain many organisms, but they have a limited amount of the resources needed for survival and reproduction.

Competition is an interaction between individuals that happens when resources like food, water, shelter, and mates are limited.

Competition can be categorized by the identity of the organisms involved—either intraspecific, within the same species, or interspecific, between different species. It can also be categorized as direct or indirect competition based on whether the organisms interact directly or indirectly.

Competition is more likely to happen when there is an overlap between ecological niches. Organisms with similar niches need many of the same resources, while those with very different niches may not compete at all.

Interspecific competition happens when individuals of different species, such as coyotes and wolves, compete for a common resource, such as prey or territory. In territories where gray wolf and coyote populations overlap, competition between the two species may limit the number of coyotes within those territories.

One possible consequence of interspecific competition is competitive exclusion. If two species compete for the same limiting resource over time, one species may outcompete the other.

The weaker competitor may need to adjust its behavior to use other resources within its niche. For example, coyotes may move to a new territory away from gray wolves or, over many generations, evolve to occupy a different niche. Otherwise, they may die out.

Intraspecific competition, on the other hand, happens between individuals of the same species. This type of competition is common because individuals occupy the same niche in the ecosystem and require the same resources.

Direct competition happens when individuals of the same or different species interact directly. For example, two male antelopes fight for the opportunity to mate with a female. In this mechanism, one individual prevents others from using a resource, in this case, a mate. Marking territory is another behavior that helps control access to a resource.

Indirect competition happens when individuals use up a shared resource, leaving less available for others. For example, elephants and other animals use a common water source, such as a pond. Elephants may drink more water, leaving less available for other animals.

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Intraspecific Competition

Competitive Exclusion

Resource Partitioning

Spatial Resource Partitioning

Niche Differentiation

Population Regulation

Evolutionary Selection Pressure

Limited Resources