When sap-sucking leafhoppers feed on potato plants early in the growing season, they cause potato leaves to curl and lose chlorophyll.Later in the season, potato beetles that consume these damaged leaves show reduced growth and survival rates.This interaction is best described as _______ that is _______.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Interference competition occurs when organisms directly interfere with each other's access to resources, such as food or space. In this case, the leafhoppers are interfering with the potato beetles' access to food by damaging the leaves. The competition is asymmetrical because the leafhoppers are more affected by the interaction than the potato beetles.

When Sap-Sucking Leafhoppers Feed on Potato Plants Early in the Growing