According to the competitive exclusion principle, the populations of two species that live in the same place and have exactly the same ecological requirementsa. can coexist but with the population of each species at half of the carrying capacity (K) as when each population is separate.b. can coexist at the same carrying capacity (K) as when each population is separate.c. cannot coexist because one species will eventually drive the other to extinction.d. can coexist but with the population of one species much higher than that of the other species.

Respuesta :

Answer:

The correct answer is C: "The populations of two species that live in the same place and have exactly the same ecological requirements cannot coexist because one species will eventually drive the other to extinction"

Explanation:

The competitive exclusion principle establishes that two or more species that share the same niche requirements and are in biological competition for the same resources, won´t be able to coexist indefinitely in the same space if the other ecological factors are constant. When the superior competitor occupies entirely the inferior competitor´s fundamental niche, the superior species has advantages over the other species and monopolizes all the resources. At this point, the inferior species is displaced and must adapt to use other resources changing its behavior, or must migrate to another area where it can get access to its needs, or get extinct.