Ecological competition is an interaction in which individuals or populations adversely affect each other’s growth, survival, or reproduction by utilizing the same limiting resources within an ecosystem. It is typically classified as intraspecific (within a species) or interspecific (between species) and can be exploitative, where organisms indirectly compete through resource depletion, or interference, involving direct antagonistic behaviors. Competition shapes community structure, species niches, and adaptive trait evolution, and is a central process in population dynamics models such as Lotka–Volterra formulations. Its intensity and outcomes depend on resource availability, environmental heterogeneity, and species-specific functional traits.
Two new studies into lizard colors reveal how one species maintains its colorful diversity while others are losing their ancient colors. And the changes are being driven by the biological equivalent of rock-paper-scissors.
Scientists reveal that the scale of analysis determines whether invasive plants succeed by resembling or differing from native species, resolving decades of conflicting ecological evidence.
Plants & Animals
Dec 22, 2025
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15
Two new studies show how climate influences behavior, communication, and genome evolution—driving adaptation in a long-running conflict.
Evolution
Dec 15, 2025
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41
A research team led by Prof. Wang Kelin from the Institute of Subtropical Agriculture of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has uncovered how multitrophic organisms adapt to phosphorus (P) limitation in subtropical ecosystems.
Ecology
Nov 24, 2025
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12
A new study reveals that four wild cat species living in the same rainforest habitat in Guatemala reduce competition for food by hunting in different vertical zones, some in trees and others on the ground.
Plants & Animals
Nov 24, 2025
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30
A new study led by the University of St Andrews has found that critically endangered African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) are significantly more likely to forage in the same areas as commercial fishing vessels during years ...
Plants & Animals
Nov 17, 2025
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156
In urban environments, competing hornet species coexist by specializing on different prey species. This finding was made possible by pioneering DNA analysis of hornet larvae's gut contents and shows that cities are fascinating ...
Plants & Animals
Nov 4, 2025
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25
A simple change in species composition can impact the course of evolution: A research team from the University of Bern and the University of British Columbia in Canada shows that the presence of just one other fish species ...
Evolution
Oct 15, 2025
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35
Conspecific negative density dependence (CNDD) has been considered a cornerstone of species coexistence in highly diverse ecosystems like tropical forests. However, most studies have focused exclusively on trees.
Plants & Animals
Sep 26, 2025
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30
The expectation that competition for dwindling resources drives societies toward conflict has shaped much of the discourse around climate change and warfare. As resources become increasingly vulnerable to environmental fluctuations, ...
Environment
Sep 10, 2025
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