Final answer:
Interspecific competition occurs between individuals of different species striving for limited resources. It can result in extinction of one species or the evolution of greater specialization in both species.
Step-by-step explanation:
Interspecific competition happens when individuals of different species strive for a limited resource in the same area. Since any two species have different traits, one species will be able to out-compete the other. One species will be better adapted to its environment, and essentially "win" the competition. The other species will have lower reproductive success and lower population growth, resulting in a lower survival rate.
Interspecific competition is the basis of the competitive exclusion principle, which states that two different species cannot occupy the same niche in the same place for very long. Interspecific competition often leads to extinction or the evolution of greater specialization in both species. If one species is less well adapted, it may obtain fewer resources and may not survive.
For example, cheetahs and lions feed on similar prey. If prey is limited, then lions may catch more prey than cheetahs. This will force the cheetahs to either leave the area or suffer a decrease in population.