Analysis of the Lotka-Volterra competition model implies that two competitors can coexist only when
A) interspecific competition is stronger than intraspecific competition.
B) intraspecific competition is stronger than interspecific competition.
C) intraspecific and interspecific competition are equally strong.
D) predation or parasitism is stronger than interspecific competition.
E) Actually, the model implies that two competitors can never coexist.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Lotka-Volterra competition model suggests that two species can coexist in the same environment when the competition within species (intraspecific competition) is stronger than the competition between species (interspecific competition). This condition allows each species to limit its own population size more than it limits the population size of the other species, thereby enabling stable coexistence.

Analysis of the Lotka-Volterra Competition Model Implies That Two Competitors