Question

Describe the competitive exclusion principle and its effects on competing species.

Short answer

The competitive exclusion principle states that no two species can coexist in a same habitat and it has effect on the existence of both species.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1. Competitive exclusion principle

The competitive exclusion principle asserts that no two species in a habitat can coexist and compete for the same type of resources at the same time duration, in the same place or in other words, two species cannot occupy the same habitat niche.

Step 2. Effect of competitive exclusion principle on competing species

Competition and natural selection may cause two competing species with overlapping niches to evolve more distinct niches, resulting in resource partitioning, or it may result in the dominance of one species over the other, culminating in the extinction of the other.