Question

Competition can function as a mechanism if density dependent population regulation. How might scamble and contest competition differ in their effect on population growth (regulation)?

What condition must hold true for territoriality to function as a density dependent mechanism regulating population growth (and density)?

Answer 1

• The density dependent population has one of the factor of intra specific competition. As the population will be more dense the mortality rate increases. As there will be competition for resources there will be less per capita resource and the individual will be dying up ultimately shrnking the population size. There by it controls the population growth.
• Contest competition is in heirarchies or social chains but the scramble one is accidentally competing over one resource. Scramble one is intraspecific and is more prone to decrease the population by increasing the level of competition. It is more dangerous than the contest one in terms of decreasing population growth.
• In some experiments It has been seen that terrotoriality is negatively corelated with the population density. In terms of food resources the terriroiality plays a role resulting in the unequal distribution of the resources. It affects the population density in negative terms. Ex: Clethrionomys rufocanus bedfordiae, Grey red backed voles population.