Intraspecific + Interspecific competition Flashcards
What is intraspecific competition?
Competition between members of the same species, for example humans fighting humans
What is interspecific competition?
Competition between members of different species, for example humans vs lions
When does intraspecific competition occur?
Intraspecific competition occurs when individuals of the same species compete for resources such as food, water, breeding sites etc
What does the availability of resources affect?
The availability of resources can affect the degree of competition between individuals, which results in smaller populations
What does the availability of resources determine?
The availability of resources determines population size, greater availability means larger population sizes
What usually happens with interspecific competition, involving competitive advantage?
Usually one species has a competitive advantage over the other
What happens because of interspecific competition, what is it known as?
One population will gradually increase in size and the other will diminish. If favourable conditions remain the same, which benefit the growing population, it will lead to the complete removal of the other species. Known as the competitive exclusion principle
How do you show how a factor influences population size?
To show how a factor influences population size, it is necessary to link birth rate and death rate of individuals in the population
How would explain how food supply influences a population size?
Outline what would happen in both situations where the food supply increases or decreases.
When there is a reduction in food supply, this can lead to individuals dying of starvation.
When there is an increase in food supply, this can lead to an increase in survival rates and increase the probability of producing offspring, increasing the probability of producing offspring, increasing the population size
