Plankton are good examples. Natural disturbance can influence the outcome of competition. Competitive exclusion may not come into play because disturbance may keep all populations well below carrying capacity, so that competitive effects are not seen and segregation is not necessary. These systems would be nonequilibrium systems because stable equilibria predicted by the logistic model would never be reached. Consumers can influence the outcome of competition between species.
Herbivores can keep dominant species of plants in check so that other species can grow.
N i accounts for predation as a constant rate that is subtracted. Apparent occurs when two species influence each other negatively without actually competing. This can occur when both interact with the same predator species. Apparent competition can occur within a single trophic level. Figure 21-15 illustrates these interactions.