When competitive interactions occur within the same species, it is termed what?

Intraspecific competition refers to the competition that occurs between individuals of the same species. This type of interaction is significant because it can lead to various outcomes such as the regulation of population size, resource allocation, and the evolution of traits within the species. It effectively highlights how individuals compete for limited resources, such as food, space, and mates, which can impact growth, reproduction, and survival.

Intraspecific competition can drive natural selection, as individuals that are more adept at securing resources may have a reproductive advantage over their peers. This can lead to evolutionary changes within the species over time.

In contrast, interspecific competition occurs between different species, and mutualism and commensalism describe types of interactions that are cooperative rather than competitive. Therefore, recognizing the nature of competition within a single species is crucial for understanding ecological dynamics and evolutionary theory.