Competition in animals
Food
All animals require food which provides them with energy and raw materials to complete life processesThe key reactions that all living organisms complete., without which they may die. Because of these, competition for food can be fierce. There are many birds which eat insects in our gardens, and some have evolved to only eat certain types of insect to reduce competition from other speciesA type of organism that is the basic unit of classification. Individuals of different species are not able to interbreed successfully.. Others like the blue tit and great tit compete with other members of their own species and as well as others for different insects. Because food is so vital, many animals will fight for it.
Mates
Animals within a species also compete for mates. This is essential so they can pass on their geneThe basic unit of genetic material inherited from our parents. A gene is a section of DNA which controls part of a cell's chemistry - particularly protein production. to their offspring. Animals have evolved to have an innate or natural drive to reproduce, and this competition often results in fights. This is seen each year when animals like red deer group together at the start of the mating season. Large male deer fight with each other by locking antlers and pushing hard, which is called a rut. In deer, and many others species, these fights competing for mates can often result in serious injury or death, but benefits the population as only the strongest pass on their genes to the next generation.
Territory
The territories of animals contain all of the resources and conditions they need to survive. These include abioticNon-living elements of an ecosystem, such as climate, temperature, water, and soil type. factors such as light, temperature and water, and oxygen for aquatic animals. There are also bioticLiving elements of an ecosystem, such as plants and animals. factors such as food and predators. Many animals, including the cats in back gardens, will fight for territory.
An example of intraspecific competitionThe competition between organisms within the same species. competition over territory would be between lions on the grass plains of Africa whereas interspecific competitionThe competition which occurs between organisms of different species for a common resource. competition would occur when another predatorAn animal that hunts, kills and eats other animals for food. like leopards lived close to the lions.