What are usually the results when members of different species require same food and space?

Competition: When different species require the same food and space, they enter into competition with each other. Organisms within the same species can cooperate and share resources while different species generally compete for the same limited resources. This interaction can lead to several outcomes.

1. Competitive Exclusion: In complete competition, one species outcompetes the other for resources and may drive it to extinction. This phenomenon is known as competitive exclusion or the competitive exclusion principle. The more efficient competitor, with better adaptations to exploit the shared resources, will have a higher chance of survival and reproduction, leading to the decline of the less competitive species until it's eliminated from the ecosystem.

2. Resource Partitioning: Species can coexist by dividing the available resources. This is called resource partitioning. For instance, two different bird species may feed on insects during the day but specialize in capturing different insect types or hunt in different areas to minimize competition. In this case, both species can coexist by utilizing different resources within the same habitat.

3. Changes in Behavior or Morphology: In some cases, species may undergo adaptations in their behavior, morphology, or physiology to reduce competition. For example, two closely related species of squirrels might switch to different diets to avoid competing directly. One species may shift to eating larger nuts while the other consumes smaller ones, allowing both to survive in the same area.

4. Mutualism or Symbiosis: In rare instances, different species may enter into a cooperative relationship, known as mutualism or symbiosis, to benefit from each other. For instance, some plants may attract certain animals to disperse their seeds, while these animals get food in return.

5. Predator-Prey Relationship: When one species relies on another for food, a predator-prey relationship may develop. For instance, if one species primarily consumes members of another species for sustenance, a balance can be struck where the predator controls the population of its prey, allowing both species to coexist in the ecosystem.

The outcome of competition between different species depends on various factors, including the availability and diversity of resources, the degree of adaptation of each species, and the level of competition. Therefore, the results can vary widely based on the specific species and their interactions within a particular ecosystem.