Reeds growing in a freshwater swamp in Louisiana are being replaced by cattail plants. The two species have very similar requirements for growth. This observation best illustrates

random recombination
variation within a species
isolation of species populations
competition between species

competition between species

The observation that reeds growing in a freshwater swamp in Louisiana are being replaced by cattail plants best illustrates competition between species. In this scenario, reeds and cattail plants are different species with similar requirements for growth. As they both compete for resources such as space, nutrients, and sunlight in the same habitat, the cattail plants outcompete the reeds and replace them over time. This is a clear example of interspecific competition, where different species compete for the same limited resources within an ecosystem.