Description: Interspecific competition refers to the struggle between individuals of different species for limited resources in an ecosystem. This phenomenon is fundamental in ecology, as it influences the distribution and abundance of species. The resources for which they compete may include food, space, light, water, and other essential elements for survival and reproduction. Interspecific competition can manifest in various ways, such as competition for resources or habitat, but it does not typically include predation or parasitism, which are classified as other ecological interactions. This type of competition can lead to competitive exclusion, where one species displaces another, or coexistence, where species find ways to share resources. The intensity of interspecific competition can vary depending on environmental conditions and resource availability, which in turn affects population dynamics and community structure. Understanding interspecific competition is crucial for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management, as it allows predictions about how species will interact in a changing environment and how these interactions may influence the overall health of the ecosystem.
