Which of the Following is a Common Misconception Regarding the Competitive

Question

Which of the following is a common misconception regarding the Competitive Exclusion Principle?
A) It does not conflict with Gause's Principle
B) Species that coexist in different ecological niches necessarily are coexisting competitors due to their different niches.
C) Competing species that coexist must be subject to constant ecological conditions to be considered an example of the competitive exclusion principle
D) Species that adhere to the competitive exclusion principle and coexist do so as a result of different realized niches

Accepted Answer

This is a common misconception because species that coexist in different ecological niches are not necessarily competitors, as they may have adapted to different resources and conditions. The Competitive Exclusion Principle states that two species that occupy the same niche cannot coexist in the long term, regardless of whether or not they belong to different ecological niches.