Question

The competitive exclusion principle can be best explained when

• A. Predators exert a cyclic effect on the population size of their prey.
• B. Two populations in the same ecosystem cannot occupy the same niche.
• C. Pollutants accumulate in greater concentrations at higher trophic levels.
• D. The trophic structure of ecosystems describes energy flow through a community.
• E. An ecosystem has limited resources and cannot support an unlimited population.

Answer 1

The correct option is B Two populations in the same ecosystem cannot occupy the same niche.

The competitive exclusion principle also referred to as Gause's law states that two species in the same ecosystem but different niche competing for the same resource cannot coexist at constant population values if other ecological factors remain constant. Thus, the correct answer is option B.