NEETZoologyOrganisms and Populations
What did Connell’s experiments reveal about barnacle species on the Scottish coast?
Options
- AThe smaller barnacle Chthamalus dominates the intertidal area
- BBoth barnacle species co-exist equally in the intertidal zone
- CThe larger barnacle Balanus dominates and excludes the smaller barnacle Chthamalus
- DThe intertidal area is equally occupied by both barnacle species
Correct answer
C. The larger barnacle Balanus dominates and excludes the smaller barnacle Chthamalus
Step-by-step solution
The Abingdon tortoise in Galapagos Islands became extinct within a decade after goats were introduced on the island, apparently due to the greater browsing efficiency of the goats. Another evidence for the occurrence of competition in nature comes from what is called ‘competitive release’. A species whose distribution is restricted to a small geographical area because of the presence of a competitively superior species, is found to expand its distributional range dramatically when the competing species is experimen