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Explain what would happen if the competitive exclusion principle were violated. a. One species will prey on another species and drive it to extinction. b. One species will adapt to another species invading its habitat. c. One species will block another species’ access to a critical resource. d. One species will contend with another species for the same resources.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Option (d) describes a violation.

Step by step solution

01

Understand the Competitive Exclusion Principle

The competitive exclusion principle states that two species competing for the same limited resource cannot coexist in the same ecological niche. One species will always have a slight advantage that will allow it to dominate the other, eventually leading to the exclusion of the less competitive species.
02

Evaluate the Given Options

Consider each of the options to understand the scenarios they describe and check which scenario illustrates a violation of the competitive exclusion principle.
03

Analyze Option (a)

Option (a): 'One species will prey on another species and drive it to extinction.' This scenario describes predation rather than competition for the same resources, hence it does not violate the competitive exclusion principle.
04

Analyze Option (b)

Option (b): 'One species will adapt to another species invading its habitat.' This describes a situation where species adapt to coexist, which does not align with competitive exclusion since it suggests adaptation to coexist rather than complete exclusion.
05

Analyze Option (c)

Option (c): 'One species will block another species’ access to a critical resource.' This indicates direct competition and exclusion by blocking access, aligning with the competitive exclusion principle rather than violating it.
06

Analyze Option (d)

Option (d): 'One species will contend with another species for the same resources.' This suggests that species are coexisting while directly competing for the same resources, thus violating the competitive exclusion principle by suggesting coexistence.
07

Determine the Violation Scenario

Based on the analysis, option (d) describes a violation of the competitive exclusion principle as it indicates two species competing indefinitely for the same resources.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

species competition
Species competition refers to the interaction between two or more species that vie for the same limited resources such as food, space, or light. This type of interaction can significantly affect the population sizes and survival of these species. There are two primary forms of competition:
  • Intraspecific Competition: This occurs within the same species. Members of the same species compete for resources like mates, food, and habitat.
  • Interspecific Competition: This happens between different species. They compete for the same limited resources in an ecosystem.
Understanding these types of competitions is crucial for grasping why one species might dominate or lead to the exclusion of another, reflecting the competitive exclusion principle.
ecological niche
An ecological niche is a term used to describe the role and position a species has in its environment. It includes how the species meets its needs for food and shelter, how it survives, and how it reproduces. A niche encompasses:
  • Habitat: The physical environment where a species lives.
  • Behavior: The way a species interacts with its environment and other organisms.
  • 91Ó°ÊÓ: The food, water, and other necessities a species needs to survive.
When two species occupy the same niche, they compete for the same resources leading to the principle of competitive exclusion.
resource competition
Resource competition occurs when multiple species or individuals require the same limited resources. This competition can be intense and lead to various outcomes:
  • Exploitation Competition: When species indirectly interact by consuming the same resources, reducing their availability to others.
  • Interference Competition: Direct interactions, where one species prevents another from accessing resources either through physical means or through behaviors.
Such competition can drive evolutionary changes and adaptations in species, encouraging them to explore different niches or develop specialized resource use strategies. This dynamic is at the heart of many ecological interactions and underpins the competitive exclusion principle.
species coexistence
Species coexistence involves multiple species living together in the same environment without one driving the others to extinction. This can happen through several mechanisms:
  • Resource Partitioning: Species evolve to use different resources or the same resources in different ways, reducing direct competition.
  • Temporal Separation: Species use resources at different times, such as diurnal vs. nocturnal feeding patterns.
  • Spatial Variation: Species use different parts of the habitat or have slightly different habitat requirements.
These adaptations allow for increased biodiversity and the stable coexistence of species, inherently challenging the strict interpretation of the competitive exclusion principle.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Humans began developing oil as an energy source in the early part of the twentieth century. Explain the relationship between this development and the human carrying capacity of Earth. a. Drilling for oil enabled humans to increase food production through the use of machinery, which increased the human carrying capacity of the Earth. b. Oil production allowed new transportation methods faster than methods using animals, which decreased the human carrying capacity of the Earth. c. Accessing oil as an energy source created increased greenhouse gas emissions, which increased the human carrying capacity of the Earth. d. Oil as an energy source enabled humans to enjoy more recreational activities, which decreased the human carrying capacity of the Earth.

Some animal behaviors can be modified by experience. Which of the following accurately predicts how an experiential factor is likely to affect an animal’s behavior? a. A species of salmon will migrate up the same river regardless of increases in predators that visit these waterways from one year to the next. b. Female elk that had difficult deliveries of calves will continue to mate with males in succeeding mating seasons. c. Bears that receive food from humans are later more likely to break into human habitations than bears that are not approached by humans. d. A bird raised from an egg isolated in a lab environment will give the same alarm call as birds of the same species raised in the wild.

Predict and explain the effects of human population on biodiversity many years in the future. a. Biodiversity will decline as human population increases because of habitat loss, increased pollution, and climate change. b. Biodiversity will decline as human population increases because of enhanced food supplies, medical advances, and development of renewable energy sources. c. Biodiversity will increase as human population increases because of habitat loss, increased pollution, and climate change. d. Biodiversity will increase as human population increases because of enhanced food supplies, medical advances, and development of renewable energy sources.

Albatrosses are birds that can live to age 60 and older. They usually do not start breeding until they reach age 8 or 9, which is relatively late compared to other bird species. Based on this information, explain conditions that might be a risk to the survival of albatrosses. a. increased chance of individuals dying before reproducing b. decreased life spans of individuals c. increased chance of offspring dying d. decreased chances of mating between individuals

Research on elk in Yellowstone National Park was conducted to determine how body condition affects survival of the elk over the winter months. It was found that the probability of survival of female elk is greater when they have accumulated 15% or more body fat by the end of fall. Female elk with body fat less than 10% in late fall were found to be at high risk of not surviving the winter. Explain why this pattern is likely to be observed. (credit: USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center) a. In winter, the availability of food decreases. So, there needs to be a certain threshold level of energy their bodies store in the form of fat to ensure their survival. b. In winter, the availability of food increases. So, there should be a certain threshold level of energy in their bodies stored in the form of fat to ensure their survival. c. In winter, elk’s requirement for food increases due to increase in metabolic activities. So, there should be a certain threshold level of energy in their bodies stored in the form of fat to ensure their survival. d. Elk release more energy in winter. So, there should be a certain threshold level of energy in their bodies stored in the form of fat to ensure their survival.

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