What competition occurs between individuals of different species?

Interspecific competition occurs between individuals of different species when they compete for the same resources in an ecosystem, such as food, light, space, or water. This type of competition can significantly impact the population dynamics of the involved species and influence their evolutionary adaptations.

For example, if two different species of plants compete for sunlight, the species better adapted to grow taller may overshadow the other, ultimately affecting its growth and survival. Interspecific competition can lead to niche differentiation, resource partitioning, or even local extinction of one species if it cannot compete effectively for the available resources.

Understanding interspecific competition is crucial for studying ecosystems and biodiversity, as it helps to explain how species coexist and the role that competition plays in shaping community structure.