24.2 Competition

Question 1

What is interspecific competition?

Answer 1

Competition between different species

Question 2

What is intraspecific competition?

Answer 2

Competition between members of the same species

Question 3

How does interspecific effect a species?

Answer 3

If both species are equally adapted:
- less available resource for each species
- less energy(food) or ability (e.g. spaces) for growth and reproduction
- smaller populations of both species than there would be if there was only one population present
If one species is better adapted:
- the less well adapted species will be outcompeted
- if conditions remain same, less well adapted species will decline until it can no longer exist in the habitat alongside the better adapted species
- competitive exclusion principles= where two species are competing for limited resources, the one that uses the resource mire effectively will eliminate the other

Question 4

How does intraspecific effect a species?

Answer 4

• the availability of the resource determines the population size
• greater availability of resource = larger population that can be supported
  Stage 1 : resources are plentiful and organisms can survive and reproduce, population size increases
  Stage 2 : increased population = more individuals that have to share the resources, resources are now limited, population size decreases
  Stage 3 : smaller population = less competition exists, more organisms survive and reproduce, population grows
  Cycle repeats again