What is the term for the phenomenon where organisms compete for limited resources?

The term describing the phenomenon where organisms compete for limited resources is known as competition. This can occur among individuals of the same species, often referred to as intraspecific competition, or between individuals of different species, known as interspecific competition. In both cases, organisms vie for resources such as food, water, space, or mates, which can ultimately impact their survival and reproductive success.

Competition is a vital ecological process that influences population dynamics, community structure, and the distribution of species within ecosystems. By understanding competition, ecologists can gain insights into dynamics such as species coexistence, niche differentiation, and the overall health of ecosystems.

The other terms listed refer to different ecological interactions: amensalism describes a relationship where one organism is harmed while the other is unaffected; commensalism involves one organism benefiting while the other is neither helped nor harmed; and mutualism indicates a mutually beneficial interaction between species. None of these concepts accurately denote the competitive interactions for limited resources that characterize competition.