NEETZoologyOrganisms and Populations
Does competition always require limiting resources?
Options
- AYes, competition only occurs when resources are limiting
- BNo, competition can occur even if resources are not limiting
- CYes, but only in terrestrial ecosystems
- DNo, competition never occurs with abundant resources
Correct answer
B. No, competition can occur even if resources are not limiting
Step-by-step solution
When Darwin spoke of the struggle for existence and survival of the fittest in nature, he was convinced that interspecific competition is a potent force in organic evolution. It is generally believed that competition occurs when closely related species compete for the same resources that are limiting, but this is not entirely true. Firstly, totally unrelated species could also compete for the same resource. For instance, in some shallow South American lakes, visiting flamingoes and resident fishes compete for their