19.3 - Competition

• competition

  when two or more individuals share any resource that is insufficient to satisfy all of their requirements fully
• intraspecific competition

  when individuals of the same species compete with one another for resources
• interspecific competition

  when organisms of different species compete for resources
• resource availability for interspecific competition

  resources available for both species so both will be limited so less energy for growth and reproduction so lower carrying capacity
• competitive exclusion principle

  when two species are competing for limited resources, the one that uses them the most effectively (better adapted) will eliminate the other

  (no two species can occupy the same niche indefinitely when resources are limiting)
• fundamental niche

  entire set of conditions under which an organism can survive and reproduce
• realised niche

  set of conditions an organism actually inhabits after competition and predation have been taken into account