19.3 - Competition

Question 1

What is intraspecific competition?

Answer 1

Occurs when individuals of the SAME species compete with one another for resources such as food, water, breeding sites

Question 2

Give an example of intraspecific competition

Answer 2

Limpets competing for algae, which is their main food, the more algae available, the larger the limpet population becomes

Question 3

What is interspecific competition

Answer 3

Occurs when individuals of DIFFERENT species compete for resources such as food, light, water

Question 4

What is the competitive exclusion principle?

Answer 4

States that where two species are competing for limited resources, the one that uses these resources most effectively will ultimately eliminate the other. In other words no two species can occupy the same niche indefinitely when resources are limiting