Animals Wildlife What Is Intraspecific Competition? What happens when competition occurs within the ranks of a species? By Frederic Beaudry Frederic Beaudry Writer University of Maine Humboldt State University Université du Québec à Rimouski Dr. Frederic Beaudry is an associate professor of environmental science at Alfred University in New York. Learn about our editorial process Updated December 8, 2022 Danita Delimont / Getty Images Animals Wildlife Pets Animal Rights Endangered Species In This Article Expand Types Consequences The Role of Dominance Significance Frequently Asked Questions In ecology, competition is defined as a type of negative interaction that occurs when resources are in short supply. Intraspecific competition occurs when individuals of the same species compete for limited resources that impact their survival and ability to reproduce. A key element of this phenomenon is that competition occurs within the ranks of a species. Intraspecific competition is not just an ecological curiosity, but an important driver of population dynamics. Intraspecific vs. Interspecific Competition Interspecific competition occurs between different species whereas intraspecific competition occurs between members of the same species. The latter is more extreme because individuals are usually competing for the same exact resources. Types of Intraspecific Competition There are two notable types of competition to discuss: scramble and contest. Scramble Competition Scramble competition occurs when individuals obtain a declining fraction of the available resources as the number of competitors increases. Every individual suffers from limited food, water, or space, with consequences for survival and reproduction. This type of competition is indirect. For example, deer feed on woody browse all winter long, putting individual deer in indirect competition with each other for a resource they cannot defend from others and keep for themselves. Contest Competition Contest (or interference) competition is a direct form of interaction when resources are actively defended from other competitors. Examples include a song sparrow defending a territory or an oak spreading its crown to gather as much light as possible. Examples of Intraspecific Competition Larger, dominant grizzly bears occupy the best fishing spots on a river during the salmon spawning season.Songbirds like Eastern Towhees defend territories from which they exclude their neighbors in an effort to secure resources.Barnacles compete for space on rocks, from which they filter water to obtain their food.Plants use chemical compounds to discourage competitors, even those from the same species, and prevent them from growing too close. Francesco Riccardo Iacomino / Getty Images Consequences of Intraspecific Competition Intraspecific completion can suppress growth. For example, tadpoles take longer to mature when they are crowded, and foresters know that thinned-out tree plantations will lead to bigger trees than those left alone to grow at high density (density is the number of individuals per unit of area). Similarly, it is quite common for animals to experience a decrease in the number of young they can produce at a high population density. To avoid high-density situations, many juvenile animals will have a dispersal phase when they move away from the areas where they were born. By striking off on their own, they increase their chances of finding more abundant resources with less competition. It comes at a cost though as there is no guarantee their new digs will have sufficient resources to raise a family of their own. Dispersing young animals are also at increased risk of predation as they travel through unfamiliar territory. The Role of Dominance in Intraspecific Competition Some individual animals are able to exert social dominance over other ones to ensure better access to resources. That dominance can be applied directly by having better fighting abilities. It can also be demonstrated through signals, like coloration or structures, or behaviors like vocalizations and displays. Subordinate individuals will still be able to access resources but will be relegated to less abundant food sources, for example, or to areas with inferior shelter. Dominance can also be expressed as a spacing mechanism, including by establishing a pecking order. Instead of competing directly over resources with other individuals of the same species, some animals protect a space from other ones, claiming property over all the resources within. Fighting can be used to establish territory boundaries, but given the risks of injuries, many animals use ritualistic, safer alternatives like displays, vocalizations, mock fighting, or scent marking. Two bohemian waxwings fighting over an apple on tree in autumn. JMrocek / Getty Images Territoriality has evolved in several animal groups. In songbirds, territories are defended to secure food resources, a nesting site, and young-rearing sites. Most of the springtime birds singing we hear is evidence of male birds advertising their territory. Their vocal displays serve to attract females and to announce the location of their territorial boundaries. In contrast, male bluegills will only defend a nesting site, where they will encourage a female to lay eggs which he then fertilizes. Significance of Intraspecific Competition For many species, intraspecific competition has strong effects on how population size varies over time. At high density, growth is reduced, fecundity is suppressed, and survival is affected. As a result, the size of the population increases more slowly stabilizes, and then eventually starts declining. Once the population size reaches lower numbers again, fecundity picks back up and survival is increased, putting the population back in a growth pattern. These fluctuations keep the population from getting too high or too low, and this regulating effect is a well-demonstrated consequence of intraspecific competition. Frequently Asked Questions What role does competition play in an ecosystem? Though harsh, competition is vital to any ecosystem. It reinforces Darwin's "survival of the fittest" evolutionary theory in which genes of strong individuals get passed down through generations, making the species as a whole more apt to survive. What causes intraspecific competition? The main causes of intraspecific competition are population growth and decreasing resources. Often, it's a mixture of both.