Competition Flashcards
When does intraspecific competition occur
When individuals of the same species compete with one another for resources such as food, water, breeding sites
What determines the size of a population
The availability of such resources.
The greater the availability, the larger the population
The lower the availability, the smaller the population
When does interspecific competition occur
When individuals of different species compete for resources such as food, light, water
When populations of two species are competing with each other what tends to happen
One will normally have a competitive advantage over the other. The population of this species will gradually increase in size while the population of the other will diminish
What does the competitive exclusion principle state ?
That where two species are competing for limited resources, the one that uses these resources most effectively will ultimately eliminate the other.
No two species can occupy the same niche indefinitely when resources are limiting
