Consumer–resource interactions

Imagine you are at a birthday party and there is a big cake in the center of the table. You really like cake and so do many of the other kids at the party. But there is only one cake and not enough for everyone to have a big piece.

This is kind of like what happens in nature when animals compete for resources like food, water, and shelter. Some animals, like foxes, are predators who eat other animals, while other animals, like rabbits, are prey who are eaten by predators.

These animals are in a consumer-resource interaction because the predator is consuming the resources of the prey. But it's not just about eating - animals also compete for other resources like living space or protection from predators. For example, birds might compete for the same nest location, or bears might fight over a good spot to hibernate in the winter.

Consumer-resource interactions can occur between animals, between plants, or between animals and plants. For example, bees consume nectar from flowers and in turn help the plants by spreading pollen to help them reproduce.

Overall, consumer-resource interactions are all about animals and other organisms competing for the resources they need to survive and thrive in their environment. And just like how not everyone can have a big piece of cake at the party, not every animal can have all the resources they need in nature.