WK7 - INTERACTIONS: Competition: Part 1: What is competition?

Carrying Capacity:
- Defined as the maximum number of individuals an area can support.
- Affected by:
  - Limitations in resource availability.
  - Interactions between and within species.
Example: Nesting ledge space for Gannett population cited as determinant of carrying capacity.
- Limitation of ledge space leads to competition within the Gannett population and with other ledge-dwelling animals.

Competition: An interaction between any two organisms resulting in decreased fitness of both.

Intraspecific Competition:
- Competition within a species (intra- meaning "within").
- Example: Gannets competing for nest space.
Interspecific Competition:
- Competition between two different species (inter- meaning "between").
- Example: Another bird species competing with Gannets for ledge space.

Resource Competition:
- Definition: Two or more individuals competing directly over a resource in short supply.
- Also known as: Scramble or exploitative interaction.
- Mechanism: Some individuals are more successful at using limited resources than others.
- Example: Wolves competing for a deer carcass; those who access and consume the resource faster gain more energy.
Interference Competition:
- Definition: A behavioral interaction serving to harm or intimidate other individuals over a resource.
- Resources: Not necessarily scarce.
- Also known as: Contest.
- Nature: Aggressive interaction where some individuals are unable to access resources due to aggression or dominance.
- Example: A lion intimidating a hyena to keep it away from food, even if there is enough for both.