competeing for resources

natural selection

A process in which individuals that have certain inherited traits tend to survive and reproduce at higher rates than other individuals because of those traits.

Mutualism

A relationship between two species in which both species benefit ex bees and flowers

ecological niche

A specific role of a species within an ecosystem, including how it meets its need for food, water and shelter and how it reproduces. includes the use of all abiotic and biotic factors of its environment

Adaptation

A trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce

Predation

An interaction in which one organism kills another for food. ex. coyote killing ad eating a rabbit

competitve exclusion principle

If two species occupy the same niche, they will compete with one another until one species eliminates the other.

Paratism

One organism benefits and the other is harmed ex. mosquitos and humans

extintion

When organisms in an ecosystem cannot adapt and ALL die off as a result of environmental pressures.

evolutuion

a change in allele frequency over time

consequences of interspecific competition

adaptation or extinction

Evoluntionary Fitness

an organism's ability to pass on genes to the next generation, the more offsprings, the "fitter" the organism

intraspecific competition

competition between individuals of the same species

interspecific competition

competition between members of different species

Commensalism

one organism benefits and the other is unaffected ex. cattle and egrets

consequences of intraspecific competition

specialization

generalist species

species that can eat many different types of food. favorable in changing environments

specalist species

species that only eats a specific type of food. favorable in stable environments

competition

the struggle between organisms to survive in a habitat with limited resources ex. cheetah and lion hunting for the same prey