The species of birds residing in the same area and utilizing the same food resource are in competition with each other.
Further explanation
The interaction between species or organisms which results in harming both the species involved is called competition. A competition might occur within the same species and is called intraspecific competition whereas, when it occurs between individuals of two different species, it is referred to as interspecific competition. The competition can occur both directly or indirectly.
The direct competition is interference competition. During this type of competition, the individuals of both the species fight directly for the same limited resource. For example, two different species of birds nesting in the same geographical area would display direct competition if they fight physically with each other and the superior species completely destroys the inferior species. In indirect competition or exploitative competition, the species fight for the scarce resource. The one which utilizes the available resources more efficiently eventually survives to leave no or little resource for the other species. As a result, due to the unavailability of resources, the other species die outs.
Here, both the bird species feed on the same resource and lives in the same area. As time will pass the resource will become scarce. The species which utilizes the resources efficiently will survive and grow in number, outnumbering the second species. Therefore, both these species of birds are in direct competition with each other for space and food in that particular area.
Answer details:
Grade: Higher secondary
Subject: Ecology
Chapter: Ecological relationships
Keywords: competition, resources, interaction, direct competition, indirect competition, interference competition, exploitative competition.
