Competition (Biology)
Contents
Key Stage 3
Meaning
Competition is when two or more living creatures struggle against each other to get the same things.
Key Stage 4
Meaning
Competition is when different organisms within a community or population are seeking the same limited resource.
About Competition
- Competition happens because there is not enough of a resource to keep all of the organisms within a community or population alive.
- When organisms compete for the same resource some will lose and others will win. This is referred to as survival of the fittest.
- Competition drives the process of natural selection.
Competition between Animals
- Animals within a population compete for limited food supplies.
- Some different species of animals may compete for the same food supply.
- Animals compete for mates through either violence against their competitors or sexual displays to entice their potential mate.
- Animals also compete for territory. This helps secure food, mates and resources in the environment.
Competition between Plants
- Plants may compete for light (for photosynthesis) by growing taller and with a wider coverage of leaves than other plants.
- Plants compete for water and minerals so they grow deep and broad roots to collect as much as possible.
- Plants also compete to spread their seeds to fertile areas away from other competition. This can be done with adaptations to seeds to allow them to be carried away by the wind or float away on bodies of water.
References
AQA
- Competition, pages 236-8, 241-2, GCSE Biology, Hodder, AQA
- Competition, pages 255, 256, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy; Biology, CGP, AQA
- Competition, pages 264-267, GCSE Biology; Third Edition, Oxford UnComponents of blood, pages 52-53, 61, GCSE Biology; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQAiversity Press, AQA
- Competition, pages 315, 316, GCSE Biology, CGP, AQA
- Competition, pages 322-5, 327, 334-5, GCSE Biology; Student Book, Collins, AQA
- Competition, pages 75, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 2, Hodder, AQA
- Competition; Between animals, pages 76-7, 80, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 2, Hodder, AQA
- Competition; Between plants, pages 75-6, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 2, Hodder, AQA
- Competition; interspecific, page 334-5, GCSE Biology; Student Book, Collins, AQA
- Competition; intraspecific, page 334-5, GCSE Biology; Student Book, Collins, AQA
Edexcel
- Competition, page 283, 284, GCSE Biology, CGP, Edexcel
- Competition, page 67, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
- Competition, page 95, GCSE Biology; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel