What makes a successful competitor in the natural world? Sachin Patel
All habitats and environments have limited resources for living organisms. If there is finite food and drink, organisms must compete with others in order to obtain resources needed to survive. If the animal does not acquire the food or drink, they cannot move to another habitat and therefore will die.
All organisms have certain features or characteristics that allow it to live successfully in its own habitats. Most organisms share habitats, and therefore organisms are adapted to its habitat. Every habitat needs different adaptations, an example of this is the Polar Bear. An adaptation of a polar bear is a large body, which gives a small surface area to volume ratio, and therefore reduces heat loss. They also have large feet, which allows the Polar Bears to spread weight on snow and ice. They are adapted to a cold climate.
One example of competition in the natural world occurs directly between individual animals via aggression and intolerance. This is called interspecific competition, this is when different animals in the same area compete for the same set of resources, mostly food and space. Intraspecific competition is when different species compete with each other, usually for more specific requirements like mates.
Competition is eminent, so therefore all animals must expect some form of fight for resources. When an animal has found a good space which contains everything it needs to survive, it will protect and hold on to it. Organisms will do anything to defend their territory, they protect it so much for different reasons; a good source of water, a good amount of vegetation and a decent amount of space.
Invasive Species
An invasive species is defined legally in the USA as “An alien species whose introduction does or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health…‘Alien species’ means, with respect to a particular ecosystem, any species…that is not native to that ecosystem.” These species are a major threat to our environment because they can change habitats and alter the ecosystem function, replace or outnumber native species and damage human activities. Approximately 42% of Threatened or Endangered species are at risk primarily due to invasive species.
These species can complete destroy food chains, and stop animals competing against each other for resources. The direct threat invasive species pose are preying on native species, out competing native species for food or other resources, causing or carrying disease and preventing organisms to reproduce.
One of the most deadliest invasive species is the Nile Perch. The Nile perch, a voracious predator, was introduced to Lake Victoria in Africa as a food fish. Predation from the Nile perch has eliminated over one hundred species of the spectacular native cichlid fishes of Lake Victoria.
