Population growth leading to competition from "summary" of On the Origin of Species By Means of Natural Selection by Charles Darwin
As more individuals are produced than can possibly survive, there must in every case be a struggle for existence, either one individual with another of the same species, or with the individuals of distinct species, or with the physical conditions of life. It is the doctrine of Malthus applied with manifold force to the whole animal and vegetable kingdoms; for in this case there can be no artificial increase of food, and no prudential restraint from marriage. Although some species may be now increasing, more or less rapidly, in numbers, all cannot do so, for the world would not hold them. Thus, as it has come to pass that many species within the same area have come to be closely allied to each other, and as they have often partaken of the same food, it is manifest that some at least of the species of the same area must be undergoing modification. When we look at the plants and bushes clothing an entangled bank, we are tempted to attribute their proportional numbers and kinds to what we call chance. But how false a view is this! Every one has heard that when an American forest is cut down, a very different vegetation springs up; but it has been observed that ancient Indian mounds are covered with vegetat...
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