8. In simple ecological models, two resource- limited species cannot coexist sta

Question

8. In simple ecological models, two resource- limited species cannot coexist stably if they use the same resources. Hence, coexisting species are expected to differ in resource use because of the extinction or exclusion, by competition, of species that are too similar. Therefore, coexisting species could differ either because of this purely ecological process of "sorting" or because of evolutionary divergence in response to com petition. How might one distinguish which process has caused an observed pattern? (See Losos, 1992, Systematic Biology 41: 403-420, for example.)

Explanation / Answer

Evolutionary divergence happens generally within genus like birds of same species might have varying wings enable one species to fly above and fetch fruits while other has to stay closer thus differentiating their niches. Ecological sorting will spread across genus like different in feeding habits of various animals.

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