When different kinds of animals or plants try to get the same limited resources, some interesting things happen. This competition can end up in different ways, thanks to something called niche differentiation. This means that different species change and adapt to use different resources or live in different places.

For example, imagine a forest with two types of birds that both want to eat insects. If one bird feeds on insects lower in the trees and the other bird looks for food higher up, they can both live there without too much trouble.

But sometimes, there aren't enough resources for everyone. This leads to more direct competition, which can bring in the competitive exclusion principle. This principle says that if two species want the same limited resource, one will be better at getting it and push the other out. This can cause the lesser species to disappear from that area.

Another important factor is population dynamics. This means how the number of individuals in a species can change over time. When a population grows really fast, it can go beyond the carrying capacity. That's the maximum number of individuals that the environment can support.

When this happens, competition for resources increases, and it can lead to changes in populations. This fluctuation can even threaten the variety of life in that area.

In short, how competition, resources, and population changes work together helps shape our ecosystems.