Two species competing for the same resource can avoid competition by choosing different times for feeding. It is known as ___(i)______ and was supported by ___(ii)______.
When more than one species competes for the same resource in nature, they might evolve mechanisms such as ‘resource partitioning’ that promote coexistence and reduce the intensity of competition.
For example, MacArthur showed that five closely related species of insectivorous birds called warblers that lived on the same tree were able to avoid competition and co-exist by choosing different times for feeding or different foraging patterns.
They are partitioning a limiting resource and is hence called ‘resource partitioning’. It allows them to coexist despite competition.
The ‘Competitive Exclusion Principle’ was proposed by Georgy Guase, a Russian biologist.
It states that two closely related species competing for the same resources cannot coexist indefinitely and the competitively inferior one will be eliminated eventually if resources are limited.