Which relationship involves competition for limited resources?

The relationship that involves competition for limited resources is competition itself. In ecological terms, competition occurs when individuals or species vie for the same resources, such as food, water, shelter, or mates, which are in short supply. This interaction can take place within a single species or between different species, leading to a struggle that can affect population dynamics, distribution, and survival strategies.

Niche, on the other hand, refers to the role and position a species has within its environment, which includes how it obtains its resources and interacts with other organisms. While a niche can encompass aspects of competition, it does not directly describe the competitive interactions themselves.

Parasitism is a relationship where one organism benefits at the expense of another, typically involving a host that is harmed by the parasite. This scenario does not involve a direct struggle for the same limited resources.

Predation describes a relationship where one organism (the predator) hunts and consumes another organism (the prey). While there can be competition for resources among predators, the act of predation itself focuses on the consumption of one organism rather than competition for shared resources.

Understanding these relationships is essential in ecology, as they illustrate the complexity of interactions within ecosystems and how species can coexist and affect each other's populations and behaviors.