Overview:
There are several different types of competition that takes place in an ecosystem, and this page describes two of them: interspecific competition and intraspecific competition.
Interspecific Competition:
Interspecific: "hybridized from, relating to, or occurring between different species: interspecific competition. "
Seen most often between species of large predators like lions and Leopards. Herbivores are often cooperative. Zebras eat long, dry grass and the wildebeest then consume the remainder of the green grass. The Gazelle then eat the tender new growth and keep the plains open. This deters predators from using tall grass as cover. Cheetahs have adapted to running down gazelle on open ground but face intense competition from all other large carnivores. Cheetahs are very lightly built for speed and lack the strength to defend kills from anything larger than a jackal or vulture. Male cheetahs often form large gangs to defend kills.
Seen most often between species of large predators like lions and Leopards. Herbivores are often cooperative. Zebras eat long, dry grass and the wildebeest then consume the remainder of the green grass. The Gazelle then eat the tender new growth and keep the plains open. This deters predators from using tall grass as cover. Cheetahs have adapted to running down gazelle on open ground but face intense competition from all other large carnivores. Cheetahs are very lightly built for speed and lack the strength to defend kills from anything larger than a jackal or vulture. Male cheetahs often form large gangs to defend kills.
Intraspecific Competition:
Intraspecific: "Relating to or occurring between members of the same species: intraspecific competition."
Intraspecific competition occurs when members of the same species vie for the same resources in an ecosystem (e.g. food or nutrients, light or space). For example, two trees growing close together will compete for light above ground, and water and nutrients in the soil. Therefore, getting less resource, they will usually perform less well than if they grew by themselves. Adaptations to such an environment include growing taller (especially in forests), or developing a larger root system.
Intraspecific competition occurs when members of the same species vie for the same resources in an ecosystem (e.g. food or nutrients, light or space). For example, two trees growing close together will compete for light above ground, and water and nutrients in the soil. Therefore, getting less resource, they will usually perform less well than if they grew by themselves. Adaptations to such an environment include growing taller (especially in forests), or developing a larger root system.