Final answer:
Behavioural ecology, particularly sibling rivalry, illustrates intraspecific competition where individuals of the same species compete, leading to outcomes such as aggressive behaviors and possible death of the weaker individuals. Interspecific competition involves different species competing for resources, potentially leading to reduced reproductive success and survival rates of the less competitively adapted species.
Step-by-step explanation:
When analyzing behavioural ecology, particularly with reference to sibling rivalry, we are primarily discussing intraspecific competition. This form of competition arises when individuals of the same species fight for limited resources, such as food, space, or parental attention. An example of this can be seen in bird species where nestlings compete for nourishment provided by their parents. This competition can lead to aggressive behaviors, with stronger siblings sometimes outcompeting weaker ones, which may ultimately result in the weaker siblings' death or stunted growth if they do not receive adequate food.
The outcome of interspecific competition, wherein individuals of different species compete for a limited resource, can be quite different. Species B, in interacting with a more competitive Species A, may face reduced reproductive success, limited population growth, or even eventual death, thus affecting its survival rate. This phenomenon is seen in the dynamics between predators such as cheetahs and lions, who both hunt similar prey.
Environmental Biology 101 teaches us that these competitive interactions are significant as they influence not only the current population dynamics but also the evolutionary trajectory of the species involved. Organisms might adapt to the pressure through character displacement, developing different traits that reduce the direct competition for the same resources, an effect that echoes the principles of natural selection. The competitive exclusion principle states that cohabiting species with identical needs cannot exist indefinitely and that one will eventually out-compete the other or they must adapt divergently.