The Principle of Competitive Exclusion States That

Question

The principle of competitive exclusion states that
A)two species cannot coexist in the same habitat.
B)competition between two species always causes extinction or emigration of one species.
C)competition in a population promotes survival of the best-adapted individuals.
D)two species that have exactly the same niche cannot coexist in a community.
E)two species will stop reproducing until one species leaves the habitat.

Accepted Answer

The principle of competitive exclusion states that two species that have exactly the same niche cannot coexist in a community. This is because one species will always outcompete the other for resources, leading to the extinction or emigration of one of the species. As a result, similar species in the same habitat will often evolve to have slightly different niches in order to avoid direct competition.