What is the term for competition that involves the consumption of shared resources, potentially limiting availability for others?

The term that describes competition involving the consumption of shared resources, which can limit availability for others, is exploitative competition. In this type of competition, organisms utilize the same resource, leading to reduced availability of that resource for competitors. This occurs when multiple species or individuals compete indirectly by using resources such as food or space, which decreases the quantity available for one another.

In contrast, resource partitioning refers to strategies by which different species divide resources to minimize competition, while interference competition involves direct interactions where one individual blocks or interferes with another’s access to resources. Competitive exclusion is a principle stating that two species competing for the same resource cannot coexist indefinitely; one will inevitably outcompete the other. These concepts distinguish the various dynamics of competition within ecosystems, with exploitative competition focusing specifically on resource use rather than direct interference.