They may cycle together, cycle out of phase, or cycle independently. Communities may be closed or open. Species interactions cascade through a community. Community composition may be a continuum that follows environmental gradients. Few species are abundant.
Many species are rare.
The limiting resource is the resource in shortest supply relative to the organism's needs. The competitive exclusion principle says that two species cannot coexist indefinitely on the same limiting resource. Predation may or may not regulate prey populations. Predators that track prey population changes rapidly, use alternate food sources, and disperse well are most effective at controlling prey populations. Density-independent mortality on prey and predator populations can result in prey population growth.