Species Interactions – Competition (Matching + Descriptions)

Lectures 13-14 (Pages 4 and 5 of Exam 2)

Resources

components of the environment that are required by species

e.g., food/nutrients, water, sunlight, physical space, nesting sites, etc.

Niche

All of the required biotic and abiotic resources a species needs to be able to live in an ecosystem

Fundamental Niche

All of the resources and space a species would take up without any interference

Realized Niche

The actual resources and space available to a species in a community

Amensalism

Competition when one species is negatively impacted greatly and the other is largely unaffected (-/0)

Intraspecific Competition

A non-trophic interaction between individuals of the same species that is negatively impacting both individuals.

Interspecific Competition

A non-trophic interaction between individuals of different species that is negatively impacting both individuals.

Character displacement

When competition causes one species to undergo a directional shift in their resource use, often leading to resource partitioning

Resource Partitioning

Competing species using limiting resources in different ways, allowing for coexistence

Exploitation competition (Indirect)

Individuals using a resource reduce its supply

Interference competition (Direct)

When an individual directly interferes with another's access to a resource

Competitive exclusion

Unequal competition excludes one group from accessing a resource, preventing coexistence. The inferior species may become locally extinct.

Two species that use a limiting resource in the same way cannot coexist indefinitely.

Competitive Coexistence

the ability to coexist despite sharing limiting resources

Allelopathy

Plants of one species release toxins that harm other species

Fugitive Species

disperse from one place to another as conditions change

an organism that trades long-term competitive ability for rapid dispersal and quick reproduction

What does competition look like in plants?

What are the potential outcomes of competition?