Competition

Definition

Competition is the interaction between organisms or species that vie for limited resources such as food, space, and mates. This rivalry can drive natural selection and influence population dynamics, ultimately shaping community structures and ecological interactions.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Competition can be a key factor in determining the distribution and abundance of species in a community.
2. Resource limitation drives competition; when resources are scarce, organisms must compete more aggressively to survive.
3. Competition can lead to competitive exclusion, where one species outcompetes another for resources and causes its extinction in that area.
4. Niche differentiation may occur as a result of competition, where species evolve to exploit different resources or habitats to reduce competition.
5. Competition affects energy flow in ecosystems by influencing population sizes, which can ultimately impact food webs and ecosystem stability.

Review Questions

• How does competition influence population dynamics within a community?
  • Competition affects population dynamics by limiting resource availability, which can lead to changes in population sizes over time. When resources become scarce due to high competition, populations may decline or stabilize at lower levels. Additionally, competition can shape community structure by influencing which species thrive or diminish based on their competitive abilities, ultimately impacting biodiversity.
• What role does competition play in natural selection and evolutionary processes?
  • Competition plays a crucial role in natural selection by acting as a selective pressure on species. Those individuals better adapted to compete for resources are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on their advantageous traits. This process can lead to evolutionary changes within populations, including adaptations that enhance resource use efficiency or niche specialization, thereby altering the dynamics of ecosystems over time.
• Evaluate the long-term ecological impacts of intense competition on community structure and species diversity.
  • Intense competition can have significant long-term ecological impacts by influencing community structure and reducing species diversity. As dominant competitors take over available resources, less competitive species may face extinction or be pushed into less favorable habitats. This shift can lead to monocultures or simplified communities, which reduce resilience to environmental changes and disrupt energy flow within ecosystems. Ultimately, the balance of competition and cooperation among species is vital for maintaining healthy ecosystems.

Related terms

Interspecific Competition: Competition that occurs between different species competing for the same resources.

Intraspecific Competition: Competition that takes place within a single species as individuals compete for resources.

Carrying Capacity: The maximum population size that an environment can sustain indefinitely, influenced by resource availability and competition.