Question

Define, compare, and contrast direct and indirect competition. Provide an example of how each of these general phenomena shapes the distribution of organisms in shallow marine habitats

Answer 1

Competition:

Competition occurs between organisms for food, water, place by which they are harmed.

Competition can be within the same species which is called intraspecific competition, if with different species it is called interspecific competition.

Direct competition:

• It occurs between 2 species directly with aggressive interaction.
• Direct competition can occur for territory, breeding etc.
• Direct competition is also called as interference competition

Indirect competition:

• In Indirect competition species compete for the same resource. Example: water
• Indirect competition is also called as exploitation competition.

Examples of Direct competition:

In marine environment for example in sponges and corals, they produce toxic chemicals to direct at their competitors.

Examples of Indirect competition:

• Growth of Sanguinolaria nuttallii was reduced by 80% when it shares the habitat with other 2 deep-dwelling bivalves. This clearly shows that there is a competition for space.
• Mussel and barnacles attach themselves to rock, they filter the food from the water near them. These organisms compete for space and food near them.
• When one organism dominates in getting all the food, the other organism will die.
• Bangia the red algae competes with the green algae cladophora for space.

Thus direct and indirect competition plays a major role in distribution of sponges, corals, mussels, algae in the shallow marine environment.