Competition

Competition

An ecosystem is the interaction of a community of living organisms (biotic) with the non-living (abiotic) parts of their environment.
To survive and reproduce:
- Organisms require a supply of materials from their surroundings and from the other living organisms there.
- Organisms are adapted to the conditions in which they live.
- Organisms compete with each other for multiple factors: Plants often compete for light, space, and for water and mineral ions from soil.
- Animals often compete for food, mates, and territory.

Competition between organisms provides a struggle for existence, which drives evolution. Only the organisms best adapted to their environment will survive and reproduce, forming offspring also adapted to their environment. This is known as survival of the fittest.
- Interspecific competition is between different species in a community.
- Intraspecific competition is between organisms of the same species.

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