Biology Question (Need Help)

[Display77]

Question: Two bird species, A and B live in the same habitat at the same time and are competing for the same prey. Which of the following is/are a possible outcome of competition? (Select all that apply)

A- Species B is a better at obtaining prey than Species A and drives Species A to extinction in this habitat

B- Over time, Species A develops a beak shape adapted for a particular type of prey and Species B develops a beak shape adapted to a different type of prey

C- Species A and Species B begin to forage in different areas of the habitat

D- Species A is better at obtaining prey than Species B and drives Species B to extinction in this habitat

[Calibax]

A or D
Two species cannot coexist in exactly the same habitat competing for exactly the same prey.
(competitive exclusion principle)

[bhg481]

I would argue that B is also an option - hence evolution.

[rowanwitch]

All are possible, one population becoming dominant in a habitat is more likely if the other population can move away. In an isolated situation with less chance of a population moving out, niche separation is probably more likely with one or other adapting to utilise a different food supply. This can lead to the evolution of different beak shapes as this would not happen independently so enabling the bird to use the new food source. It happens because they use the new food source, the beak modification happens over generations resulting from those best adapted surviving to breed more successfully. The

[Calibax]

If the habitats or the prey overlapped then evolution and adaption of beaks could occur but with identical habitats, time and prey as specified in the question, then competition will have seen off one if not both species long before evolutionary changes can occur.
However, I am no expert and can see at least some merit in all four answers.

[rowanwitch]

All things being equal then smaller coexisting populations may exist. In this case neither population could continue indefinitely without outside contact as the gene pool would possibly be too limited.

[Peter Pedant]

It depends on what your course material says (!)

B introduces material not in the q - different kinds of prey and different competition efficiency

c - c only works if it is kinda like an island

clearly I am better at essays ( old) than MCQ

and rowans answer is good

[Peter Pedant]

and jsut in case anyone wonders

The competitive exclusion principle, sometimes referred to as Gause's Law of competitive exclusion or just Gause's Law, states that two species that compete for the exact same resources cannot stably coexist.

but the two graphs of A and B against time would look like out of synch covid graphs
( volterra equations - but that is NOT the question)