BIL 330 Lecture Notes - Lecture 24: Red Harvester Ant, Harvester Ant, Allelopathy
Document Summary
Exploitative competition: competition in which individuals consume and drive down the abundance of a resource to a point that other individuals cannot persist. Exploitative competition is considered indirect competition because it occurs through a shared resource. (2) Interference competition: when competitors do not immediately consume resources but defend them; considered direct competition. (3) apparent competition: when two species have a negative effect on each other through an enemy including a predator, parasite, or herbiviore. Aggressive interactions are an effective form of interference competition. In the deserts of new mexico, long-legged ants and red harvester ants compete for seeds and insects they can subdue. In the early morning, long-legged ants plug the entrances of harvester ant nests with stones and soil. This stops harvester ants from foraging in the morning and gives long- legged ants a competitive advantage. Allelopathy: a type of interference competition that occurs when organisms use chemicals to harm their competitors.
