Question

Chapter 14 Review

1. One way organisms interact is through competition. What do organ-
isms compete for?

Answer 1

Organisms compete for critical resources such as food, water, light, and space, which are essential for survival and reproduction. This competition, which can be intraspecific or interspecific, drives natural selection and adaptation within a species.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the context of ecology and environmental science, organisms compete for limited resources necessary for their survival and reproduction. This competition can occur within a species, known as intraspecific competition, or between different species, which is called interspecific competition. The key resources for which organisms may strive include food, water, light, and space. These elements are crucial as they provide the energy and materials required for living processes such as growth, reproduction, and maintaining bodily organization.

Competition is an important ecological interaction that significantly influences the distribution and abundance of species. It can drive natural selection by favoring traits that improve an individual's ability to obtain resources. Consequently, competition can lead to improved adaptations within a species or even the extirpation or specialization of species when faced with interspecific competitors.

Answer 2

Organisms compete for the resources they need to survive- air, water, food, and space. In areas where these are sufficient, organisms live in comfortable co-existence, and in areas where resources are abundant, the ecosystem boasts high species richness (diversity).