The scenario of two male red deer in competition for a mate is an example of what type of competition?

• A. Interspecific competition
• B. Intraspecific competition
• C. Predation
• D. Mutualism

Answer: (B)

In many species, individuals compete for limited resources, and when those resources are copies of the same thing within the same population, that’s intraspecific competition. Here, two male red deer are both vying for mating opportunities with females. They’re the same species, so they’re competing for a resource that is limited within their own population. This isn’t interspecific competition (that would involve different species), nor is it predation or mutualism. This situation also illustrates sexual selection, where traits that help win mates—like strength or antler size—can become more pronounced over generations.