Elk and bison are both herbivores and engage in exploitative resource competition. Which of the following could be explanations (reasonable hypotheses) as to why both species persist in Yellowstone rather than one of the two species being extirpated due to competitive exclusion.

Use the food web shown in the previous question to help with your answer.

Select all that apply:
a. Competitive exclusion does not occur for two species that share the same trophic level.
b. One of the two species has a much higher ecological efficiency than the other, making competitive exclusion less likely.
c. Their fundamental niches do not completely overlap.
d. Both species are kept well below their carrying capacities by predators.
e. Both species are K-strategists and hence unlikely to be affected by resource competition and competitive exclusion.

According to the competitive exclusion principle, two organisms in competition cannot co-exist in the long run. One of the organisms will eventually out-compete the other and the weaker organism will eventually die off due to lack of resources or relocate to another environment.

However, when both species in competition are kept well below their carrying capacities by predators or any other environmental factor, both of them can co-exist because there will be more than enough resources due to low population.

The correct option is d.

shrutiagrawal1798 shrutiagrawal1798 · Answer 2 · 2022-02-23T10:35:05+01:00

The competitive exclusion principle explains the presence of Elk and Bison due to lower predator carrying capacity. Thus, option D is correct.

What is the competitive exclusion principle?

The evolution and survival of an organism are explained with the competitive exclusion principle. According to these, two species competitive to each other are unable to co-exist.

Elk and bison are competitive species, and their coexistence is difficult, as the weaker species are eliminated in the race. However, the coexistence is observed when the predator carrying capacity for the species is lower.

The lesser predators allow the existence of the species in the coexistence of nature.

Therefore, the co-existence of Elk and bison is due to their smaller predators carrying capacity. Thus, option D is correct.

Learn more about the competitive exclusion principle, here:

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