▁be ▁divided ▁into ▁direct ▁and ▁indirect . ▁These ▁ ▁apply ▁equally ▁to ▁in tras pec ific ▁and ▁inter specific ▁competition . ▁Bi olog ists ▁typically ▁recognize ▁two ▁types ▁of ▁competition : ▁inter ference ▁and ▁explo itative ▁competition . ▁During ▁inter ference ▁competition , ▁organ isms ▁interact ▁directly ▁by ▁fighting ▁for ▁scar ce ▁resources . ▁For ▁example , ▁large ▁a ph ids ▁defend ▁feed ing ▁sites ▁on ▁cot ton wood ▁leaves ▁by ▁e ject ing ▁smaller ▁a ph ids ▁from ▁better ▁sites . ▁In ▁contrast , ▁during ▁explo itative ▁competition , ▁organ isms ▁interact ▁indirect ly ▁by ▁cons uming ▁scar ce ▁resources . ▁For ▁example , ▁plants ▁consume ▁nit ro gen ▁by ▁absor bing ▁it ▁into ▁their ▁roots , ▁making ▁nit ro gen ▁un available ▁to ▁nearby ▁plants . ▁Pl ants ▁that ▁produce ▁many ▁roots ▁typically ▁reduce ▁soil ▁nit ro gen ▁to ▁very ▁low ▁levels , ▁eventually ▁killing ▁neighbor ing ▁plants . ▁ ▁Inter ference ▁ ▁Inter ference ▁competition ▁occurs ▁directly ▁between ▁individuals ▁via ▁ag gression ▁etc . ▁when ▁the ▁individuals ▁inter f ere ▁with ▁for aging , ▁surv ival , ▁reprodu ction ▁of ▁others , ▁or ▁by ▁directly ▁prevent ing ▁their ▁physical ▁establishment ▁in ▁a ▁portion ▁of ▁the ▁habitat . ▁An ▁example ▁of ▁this ▁can ▁be ▁seen ▁between ▁the ▁ant ▁Nov om essor ▁co cker elli ▁and ▁red ▁har v ester ▁an ts , ▁where ▁the ▁former ▁inter fer es ▁with ▁the ▁ability ▁of ▁the ▁latter ▁to ▁for age ▁by ▁plug ging ▁the ▁ent ran ces ▁to ▁their ▁colon ies ▁with ▁small ▁rocks