NEETZoologyOrganisms and Populations
What is generally believed about competition in closely related species?
Options
- AIt occurs only when resources are abundant
- BIt is irrelevant if resources are not limiting
- CIt occurs when they compete for the same limiting resources
- DIt is always beneficial to both species
Correct answer
C. It occurs when they compete for the same limiting resources
Step-by-step solution
When Darwin spoke of the struggle for existence and survival of the fittest in nature, he was convinced that interspecific competition is a potent force in organic evolution. It is generally believed that competition occurs when closely related species compete for the same resources that are limiting, but this is not entirely true. Firstly, totally unrelated species could also compete for the same resource. For instance, in some shallow South American lakes, visiting flamingoes and resident fishes compete for their