Survival of the Fittest: New Model Reveals Winners in Plant Competition
The article explores how two competing plant species interact in a mathematical model. The growth of each plant is affected by competition from nearby plants, with larger and closer competitors having a stronger impact. If both species are equally competitive, they can coexist. However, if one species is stronger, it will outcompete the other. The weaker species can only survive if it faces stronger competition from its own kind. Overall, the study shows that competition plays a crucial role in determining which species thrive and which may face extinction in a shared environment.