Two species of sparrows are competing, and these species behave according to the Lotka‒Volterra equations. If each individual sparrow reduces the population growth rate of its own species by 0.02 per year, and it reduces the population growth rate of the other species by 0.005 per year, then the competition coefficient is

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The competition coefficient is calculated as the effect of one species on the other divided by the effect of the species on itself. Here, the effect of one species on the other is 0.005, and the effect on itself is 0.02. Thus, the competition coefficient is 0.005 / 0.02 = 0.25.

Two Species of Sparrows Are Competing, and These Species Behave