Chapter 4, Problem 18A

Summary Introduction

To determine:

The way by which competition limits the population growth.

Introduction:

The study of relationships among different living organisms and interactions among these organisms with the environment is termed as ecology. Ecology takes place in the biosphere, which is the percentage of the earth that sustains life.

Explanation of Solution

An interaction between two organisms of a species or different species, where both of them get harmed, is termed as competition. Competition is over a resource that is limitedly available in the given area or habitat. Intraspecific competition brings change in the population dynamics. As organism of same population requires same resources, this leads to limited availability of those resources. Because of intraspecific competition, some organisms do not get resources, and they die or do not reproduce due to it. All this causes decrease in population size and growth.