Question

Fly larvae of a species feed simultaneously on a shared rotting fruit. If the density of fly larvae is high, then all the larvae grow up to be smaller sized adults than if the larval density were low. Which one of the following processes best describes this observation?

• A. Scramble competition
• B. Interspecific competition
• C. Competitive exclusion
• D. Apparent competition

Hint:

Scramble competition occurs when resources are evenly distributed among all competitors, leading to decreased individual growth for everyone involved.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understand the concept of scramble competition.
Scramble competition occurs when resources are limited and individuals compete for those resources. In this type of competition, the resources are spread thin among all individuals, resulting in a decrease in individual growth rates.

Step 2: Analyze the given situation.
In this question, the larvae of the species feed on a shared resource (rotting fruit). When the density of larvae is high, they are competing for the same limited resource, which leads to all of them growing into smaller adults compared to when the larvae density is low. This directly points to scramble competition, as the competition for resources impacts the growth of all individuals equally.

Step 3: Eliminate other options.
Interspecific competition refers to competition between different species, but this question is about the same species competing.
Competitive exclusion is when one species outcompetes another, leading to the exclusion of the inferior competitor, which is not the case here.
Apparent competition involves indirect competition where two species affect each other through a shared predator or pathogen, which does not apply here.

Conclusion:
Thus, the correct answer is scramble competition.