Strong competition can lead to local elimination of one species due to competition. This concept is known as?

• A. Symbiosis
• B. Competitive exclusion
• C. Mutualism
• D. Predation

Answer: (B)

Competitive exclusion is the idea that two species competing for the same limited resources cannot stably coexist, so one is locally eliminated. When resources are scarce and the niches of the contenders overlap, the stronger competitor reduces access to those resources for the other, eventually driving it to decline in that environment. This principle was demonstrated in early experiments showing that, with identical needs, two species can’t maintain the same residence over time. In nature, complete exclusion isn’t universal because species can partition resources, use different habitats, or shift timing to allow coexistence despite competition. The other terms describe different kinds of interactions: symbiosis is any close ecological relationship, mutualism is a mutually beneficial form of that relationship, and predation is one organism feeding on another.