What type of competition occurs among individuals of the same species?

Intraspecific competition occurs among individuals of the same species and is a fundamental concept in ecology. It arises when individuals compete for the same resources, such as food, water, space, and mates. This type of competition can have significant effects on population dynamics, as it can influence growth rates, reproductive success, and survival.

Intraspecific competition often leads to natural selection, as those individuals that are better adapted to secure resources will thrive and reproduce, passing on their advantageous traits to the next generation. This can lead to evolutionary changes within the species over time.

The other concepts mentioned, such as interspecific competition, involve competition between different species; competitive exclusion refers to the principle stating that two species competing for the same resources cannot coexist if other ecological factors are constant; and resource partitioning describes how different species utilize resources in different ways to minimize competition. These concepts are important for understanding community dynamics but do not specifically address competition within a single species.