Question

Justify the following statement with suitable proof/examples:

‘Competition in nature comes from what is called competitive release.’

Answer 1

Competitive release means that a species restricted to a smaller area due to a competitively superior species expands its distribution when the competitor is removed. For example, on the coast of Scotland, Chthamalus is restricted to the upper intertidal zone because Balanus excludes it from the lower zone; when Balanus is experimentally removed, Chthamalus extends into the lower intertidal region.