Resource partitioning is the division of limited resources by species. It aims to help prevent competition in an ecological niche. In any environment, organisms compete for limited resources. Organisms and different species need to find ways to coexist with each other.
By examining how and why resources are allocated to a particular niche, scientists can better understand complex ecological interactions between and within species. Common examples of resource partitioning include anole lizards and several species of birds.
see more
Biology teacher fired after class on XX and XY chromosomes;…
Cannabidiol found in common plant in Brazil brings new perspective…
Definition
The original concept of resource partitioning refers to evolutionary adaptations in species as a response to the evolutionary pressure of interspecific competition. The most common basic biological use is based on different resource uses by species in a given niche rather than on the specific evolutionary origin of such differences.
When organisms compete for limited resources, there are two main types of competition: intraspecific and interspecific. As the prefixes denote, intraspecific competition refers to competition for limited resources by individual organisms of the same species. Interspecific competition refers to competition for limited resources by individuals of different species.
When species compete for the same resources, one species often has an advantage over another, even if only slightly. Species with an advantage will persist over the long term. Weaker species will either become extinct or occupy a different ecological niche.
Effects
By sharing resources, species can have long-term coexistence with each other in the same habitat. This allows both species to survive and thrive. This prevents a species from going extinct, as in the case of complete competition.
The combination of intraspecific and interspecific competition is important across species. When different species occupy slightly different niches with respect to resources, the limiting factor for population size it becomes more about intraspecific competition than competition interspecific.
Likewise, humans can have profound effects on ecosystems, particularly in causing species extinction. Studying the division of resources by scientists can help us understand how the removal of a species can affect the overall allocation and use of resources, both in a specific niche and in the wider environment. wide.
