Two species of closely related squirrels both feed on acorns produced by oak trees.One species feeds exclusively near the top of the tree and the other feeds exclusively towards the bottom of the tree.This is an example of ____.
A)competitive exclusion
B)resource partitioning
C)mutualism
D)commensalism
E)mimicry

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This is an example of resource partitioning, where closely related species coexist by dividing or partitioning a limited resource, in this case, the acorns produced by oak trees, based on differences in their feeding habits or behavior. The two squirrel species have evolved to utilize different parts of the oak tree, the species feeding at the top and the other at the bottom of the tree, to reduce competition for the same resource. It allows both species to coexist and reduces the likelihood of competitive exclusion or one species outcompeting the other for resources. Mutualism is a type of interaction where both species benefit, commensalism is where only one species benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed, and mimicry is a type of adaptation where one species resembles another to avoid being eaten.

Two Species of Closely Related Squirrels Both Feed on Acorns