19.3 Competition

Question 1

define competition

Answer 1

striving to gain or win something by establishing superiority over others

Question 2

when does competition occur?

Answer 2

when the niche of any two species overlaps

Question 3

what is intraspecific competition?

Answer 3

competition between organisms of the same species

Question 4

why does intraspecific competition occur?

Answer 4

availability of the resources will determine the size of the population and organisms of the same species occupy the same niche so will compete for almost everything

Question 5

what is interspecific competition?

Answer 5

competition between organisms of different species

Question 6

why does interspecific competition occur?

Answer 6

individuals of different species occupying parts of the same niche

Question 7

what effect does interspecific competition have and why?

Answer 7

one population will grow and the other will shrink because one species will have a competitive advantage over the other.

Question 8

explain the predator prey cycle - the effects of interspecific competition on population size

Answer 8

predators eat prey, thereby reducing the population of the prey
with fewer prey available the predators are in greater competition with each other for the prey that are left
the predator population is reduced as some individuals are unable to obtain enough prey for their survival or to reproduce
with fewer predators left, fewer prey are eaten and so more survive and are able to reproduce
the prey population therefore increases
with more prey now available as food the predator population in turn increases