Competition (biology)
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Competition within and between species is an important topic in biology, especially in the field of ecology. Competition between members of a species is known as intraspecific competition. Competition is also present between species is known as interspecific competition. First, a limited amount of resources, such as food, water, territory, are available, and several species may depend on these resources. Thus, species, and often individuals within a species, compete to gain these resources. As a result, several species less suited to compete for the resources may either adapt or die out. According to evolutionary theory, this competition within and between species for resources plays a critical role in natural selection.
[edit] Types of competition
- Interference competition - occurs directly between individuals via aggression etc. when the individuals interfere with foraging, survival, reproduction of others, or by directly preventing their physical establishment in a portion of the habitat.
- Exploitation competition - occurs indirectly through a common, limiting resource, which acts as an intermediate. For example the use of the resource(s) depletes the amount available to others, or they compete for space.
- Apparent competition - occurs indirectly between two species which are both predated upon by the same predator.
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Inter-species biological interactions in ecology |
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| Amensalism • Commensalism • Mutualism • Neutralism • Synnecrosis Predation (Carnivory, Herbivory, Parasitism, Parasitoidism, Cheating) Symbiosis • Competition |
