Biology 2483A Lecture : Ecology Notes
Document Summary
Competition is an interaction between individuals in which each is harmed by their shared use of a limiting resource. Competition occurs between species that share the use of a resource that limits the growth, survival, or reproduction of each species. Interspecific competition is interaction between two species in which each is harmed when they both use the same limiting resource. Intraspecific competition is between individuals of a single species. Competition for resources: resources are features of the environment required for growth, survival, or reproduction, and which can be consumed to the point of depletion. Examples of resources are food, light for plants, water in terrestrial habitats, space especially for sessile organisms, and space for refuge and nesting for mobile animals. Species are also influenced by physical factors (abiotic) that are not consumed, such as temperature, ph, and salinity. These factors are not considered to be resources.