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Question #46445
The Question
A single ancestral bird species colonizes an island and undergoes adaptive radiation, resulting in five closely related sympatric species living in the same forest canopy. According to Gause's Competitive Exclusion Principle, these species cannot coexist indefinitely if their ecological requirements are identical. Which of the following mechanisms best explains how these species achieve ecological stabilization and avoid local extinction?
Options
- A.
They undergo convergent evolution to develop analogous foraging traits, allowing them to share the same fundamental niche.
- B.
They avoid competitive exclusion through resource partitioning, which restricts each species to its realized niche rather than its fundamental niche.
- C.
They exhibit competitive release, expanding their foraging zones to encompass the entire forest canopy to maximize resource utilization.
- D.
They undergo continuous allopatric speciation to alter their geographical distribution, thereby eliminating interspecific competition.
Check Your Answer
Correct Answer
Step-by-Step Solution
Explanation
How the Examiner Thinks
Comparative_Analysis
Sharpen your ability to evaluate multiple scenarios and distinguish between competing potential answers.
Concepts Behind This Question
Adaptive Radiation Logic|Resource Partitioning (MacArthur’s Warblers)|Darwinian Fitness
Why This Question Is Tricky
Common Mistakes
Conceptual Pivot: Students often fail to connect macro-evolutionary mechanisms (Adaptive Radiation) with micro-ecological consequences (Competitive Exclusion and Resource Partitioning).
The trap lies in confusing the evolutionary expansion of species with the ecological compromise required for their survival.
By linking MacArthur's warblers to the concepts of fundamental vs. realized niches, the question tests the synthesis of Evolution and Organisms & Populations chapters.
Quick Facts About This Question
Question Information
| Subject | Biology |
| Chapter | Evolution - Class 12 |
| Concept | Adaptive Radiation Logic |
| Difficulty | 8 |
| Cognitive Load | 5 |
| Target Solve Time | 120 sec |
| Access | Free |