Overview
Ecological competition is the process by which two species interact with one another for a shared resource, such as food, water, and space. It is one of the four major forces that help determine the structure and composition of an ecological community. Because resources are limited, competing organisms must compete for their survival, and as a result, the competitive interactions can result in a number of different outcomes, such as one side becoming dominant or both species being disadvantaged. Understanding ecological competition has implications for conservation, as it can be used to better understand and manage the interactions between species that help drive the diversity and resilience of ecosystems. A better understanding of ecological competition can also be used to develop strategies to mitigate human-caused threats such as habitat destruction and climate change.