Competition in animals

• Competition in animals is determined by biotic and abiotic factors
• Animals and plants have adaptations to compete for resources
• All animals require food for energy and raw materials to complete life processes
• Competition for food can be fierce among animals
• Some birds have evolved to only eat certain types of insects to reduce competition
• Animals within a species compete for mates to pass on their genes to offspring
• Competition for mates often results in fights among animals
• In deer, large male deer fight for mates by locking antlers and pushing hard, known as a rut
• Competition for mates can result in serious injury or death, but benefits the population as only the strongest pass on their genes
• Territories of animals contain resources and conditions needed for survival
• Territories include abiotic factors like light, temperature, water, and oxygen for aquatic animals
• Territories also include biotic factors like food and predators
• Many animals, including cats, will fight for territory
• Intraspecific competition occurs within the same species
• Interspecific competition occurs between organisms of different species for a common resource
• An example of intraspecific competition is between lions on grass plains, while interspecific competition would occur between lions and leopards