What effect do less resources have on competition among organisms?

In an ecosystem, the availability of resources such as food, water, and shelter directly influences the intensity of competition among organisms. When resources are scarce, organisms must compete more intensely for what is available to survive, reproduce, and thrive. This heightened competition can lead to several outcomes, including increased aggression, altered feeding strategies, and a greater risk of mortality for some species that are unable to secure enough resources.

As individuals or species vie for limited resources, competition can become fierce, leading to changes in population dynamics and community structure. In situations where resources are limited, those individuals or species that can access or utilize resources more effectively will be favored, potentially resulting in shifts in the ecosystem as some populations decline while others may become dominant. Thus, as resource availability decreases, competition among organisms generally becomes more pronounced.