Interspecific competition occurs between members of two, or more, different species. Individuals may compete over a variety of limiting resources including food, water, light, soil resources, or space. Members of different species may compete by exploitative competition or by interference competition. Interspecific competition is an important factor limiting the population size of many species. In addition, interspecific competition can limit the number of species that can coexist in a community and affect the phenotypic characteristics of organisms in an attempt to reduce the effects of competition.
See original: Interspecific competition