Food chains and webs

Interdependency

Competition

Predator–prey

Pathogens and parasites

MYP Biology Competition Notes

Why Do Species Compete With Each Other?

Definition

Competition

When organisms require the same limited resource and not all individuals can obtain enough to survive and reproduce.

Resources in ecosystems are limited.

Food, space, light, water, and mates exist in finite amounts.
As more individuals depend on the same resource, availability per organism decreases.

Competition only occurs when a resource becomes limiting.

When resources are abundant, competition is weak or absent.
Scarcity forces organisms to compete for access.

Competition directly affects survival and reproduction.

Some individuals secure enough resources to survive and reproduce.
Others grow more slowly, reproduce less, or fail to survive.

Analogy

Competition is like musical chairs when there's too few seats.
When the music stops only some sit but many don't.

What Is Intraspecific Competition?

Definition

Intraspecific competition

Occurs between individuals of the same species.

Individuals of the same species compete intensely because they have identical needs.

They occupy the same ecological niche.
They require the same food, space, and mates.

Intraspecific competition increases as population size increases.

More individuals place greater demand on the same resources.
Competition intensifies even if environmental conditions stay constant.

Outcomes of intraspecific competition:

Reduced growth due to limited food or space.
Reduced reproductive success due to limited mates or energy.
Natural regulation of population size as weaker individuals fail to reproduce.

Example

Oak trees growing close together compete for sunlight.
Taller trees receive more light, while shorter trees are shaded and may not survive.

Exam technique

If the question involves members of the same species, the answer must include the term intraspecific.
Simply stating competition will not earn you any marks.

What Is Interspecific Competition?

Definition

Interspecific competition

Occurs between individuals of different species that rely on the same limited resource.

Different species may have overlapping resource requirements.

They may feed on similar food sources.
They may occupy similar spaces within a habitat.

Interspecific competition shapes where species can live.

One species may reduce the population size of another.

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit.

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.

Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.

Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

MYP Biology Competition Notes

Why Do Species Compete With Each Other?

What Is Intraspecific Competition?

What Is Interspecific Competition?

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

Why Do Species Compete With Each Other?

What Is Intraspecific Competition?

What Is Interspecific Competition?

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

Cells7 subtopics

Organisms7 subtopics

Processes10 subtopics

Metabolism4 subtopics

Evolution7 subtopics

Interactions with environment6 subtopics

Interactions between organisms5 subtopics

Human interactions with environments3 subtopics

Biotechnology3 subtopics

MYP Biology Competition Notes

Cells7 subtopics

Organisms7 subtopics

Processes10 subtopics

Metabolism4 subtopics

Evolution7 subtopics

Interactions with environment6 subtopics

Interactions between organisms5 subtopics

Human interactions with environments3 subtopics

Biotechnology3 subtopics

Why Do Species Compete With Each Other?

What Is Intraspecific Competition?

What Is Interspecific Competition?

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

Why Do Species Compete With Each Other?

What Is Intraspecific Competition?

What Is Interspecific Competition?

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account