Interspecific relationships occur between different species in a community. Compare mutualism, parasitism, competition, predation and herbivory by how each affects the species involved.
The photograph shows Japanese knotweed, Reynoutria japonica, which is native to Japan, China and Korea. It has been introduced into other regions of the world and is now an invasive alien species in parts of Europe and North America. Dense groups of stems often develop with a height of up to 3 metres, which prevent other plants from growing.
Suggest two ways in which a plant such as Reynoutria japonica could prevent the growth of other plants.