Competition - SS3 Biology Lesson Note

Biological competition refers to the interaction between individuals or species competing for limited resources within an ecosystem. Competition can occur within or between species and plays a significant role in shaping population dynamics, resource allocation, and the evolutionary processes of organisms. Here are the main types of biological competition:

1.       Intraspecific Competition: Intraspecific competition refers to competition between individuals of the same species. Individuals within a population compete for resources such as food, water, territory, mates, or nesting sites. This form of competition can be intense since individuals have similar resource requirements and ecological niches. Intraspecific competition can result in the regulation of population size, the development of social hierarchies, and the evolution of traits that reduce direct competition, such as territoriality or mate competition.

2.       Interspecific Competition: Interspecific competition occurs between individuals or species belonging to different species. It arises when different species have overlapping resource needs or occupy similar ecological niches. Interspecific competition can be a powerful force influencing species distributions, coexistence, and evolutionary adaptations. It can lead to competitive exclusion, where one species outcompetes and displaces another, or resource partitioning, where species evolve to use different resources or occupy distinct niches to reduce competition.