Final answer:
The type of species interaction described here is competition. Sugar maples release chemicals in the soil that decrease net primary productivity in the nearby yellow birch trees. This chemical has no effect on sugar maples, but it makes it difficult for yellow birch trees to survive.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of species interaction described here is competition. Sugar maples release chemicals in the soil that decrease net primary productivity in the nearby yellow birch trees. This chemical has no effect on sugar maples, but it makes it difficult for yellow birch trees to survive. As sugar maples are grown for sap production, their presence negatively affects the neighboring yellow birch trees.