Question

Discuss the effects of interspecific and intraspecific competition on niche breadth. Explain what causes the difference.

Answer 1

Nitche breadth decreases or reduced due to interspecific competition (competition between two species) while Nitche breadth expansion occurs due to intraspecific competition( competition between the members of same species.

The nitche breadth reduced due to interspecific competition because one competitor species restrict the availability of resources to another species which leads to reduction in nitche breadth of species. While nitch expansion occurs in case of intraspecific competition because intraspecific competition leads to reduction in the availability of preferred resources, but favored those organisms of species  who utilize the resources which are  previously ignored provinding some relief from competition .