In the wild nature of their own, sometimes severelaws. Between different organisms of even one species, competition often arises. What is intraspecific struggle? What causes and consequences can it have?
Interrelations of living organisms with each othercan develop in different ways. Sometimes they manifest themselves in the form of cooperation, where both parties benefit, sometimes they are mutually derogatory. Competition is a kind of relationship in which living organisms compete. As a rule, someone usually gets a benefit.
There are two types of competition: interspecific and intraspecific. The first, as the name suggests, occurs between representatives of different species. It often occurs when the life of organisms requires the same resource, for example water. Especially if the amount of the resource is limited.
Intraspecific struggle is manifested in representativesone or more populations within one species. In this case, the ecological niche of living organisms is as close as possible, therefore, rivalry is more severe and sharper than in the case of interspecific competition.
Representatives of one type compete forterritory or food. The need for it appears when the population becomes too numerous. One of the reasons may be a sharp change in environmental conditions as a result of natural disasters or disasters.
Intraspecific fighting is constantly occurring inas a rivalry for fertilization. Competition is more common among males, forced to fight for the attention of females. It is well developed in species where social roles are clearly defined, and with the help of rivalry the leader is chosen.
Competition within species is an important naturala mechanism that regulates the number of individuals so that the population does not grow excessively. It is also a serious engine that provokes living organisms to mutate, adapt to environmental conditions.
Animals that practice competition withtheir brethren, quite a lot. To reduce rivalry within the population, various adaptations can be developed in animals. For example, in insects at different stages of development, individuals are different in appearance, mode of feeding, etc. In butterflies, these are pupae, dragonflies, ants and others - larvae.
More than a thousand species of animals asthe election of cannibalism. In some species it is always present, in others it occurs in "difficult times" under adverse environmental factors. Female mantis and black widow eat partner immediately after mating, lions can encroach on their own cubs, hamadry eat offspring of conquered females.
Animals are, by virtue of their abilities, more vividly andare diverse in their rivalry. In plants, intraspecies struggle proceeds slowly. It occurs in competition for sunlight, water and nutrient resources.
You have seen in the forest weak and badDeveloped trees, while their brethren at a distance of half a meter grow tall and strong? Most likely, they came under the influence of the factor of competition. More resistant plants develop more actively, gradually shading foliage "neighbors." In the absence of the sun, weak individuals grow worse and eventually die.
An example of the struggle is the development of powerfulbranched roots in plants. The more they grow, the less nutrients the neighboring plants will get. Thus, intraspecific competition fulfills the function of natural selection, contributing to the survival of the most powerful and adapted organisms.
