What is the term for the competition between organisms for resources like territory, mates, and food?

The term for the competition between organisms for resources such as territory, mates, and food is "competition." This phenomenon occurs when two or more organisms strive to obtain the same limited resource, which can lead to various outcomes, such as reduced availability of those resources or altered behaviors among the competing species.

In ecosystems, competition can be intraspecific (between individuals of the same species) or interspecific (between different species). It plays a crucial role in natural selection and influences community structure. For instance, in an environment where food is scarce, animals must compete more fiercely, which can affect their survival and reproduction.

The other terms listed refer to different ecological interactions: mutualism involves both species benefiting from the interaction; predation refers to one organism consuming another for energy; and cooperation involves organisms working together for mutual benefit. These concepts help illustrate the complexity of interactions in ecosystems, but they do not describe the competitive dynamics specifically related to resource acquisition.