Question

Statement I: Gause’s ‘Competitive Exclusion Principle states that two closely related species competing for the same resources cannot co-exist indefinitely and competitively inferior one will be eliminated eventually. 

Statement II: In general, carnivores are more adversely affected by competition than herbivores.

In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Options

• Both Statement I and Statement II are false.

• Statement I is correct but Statement II is false.

• Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is true.

• Both Statement I and Statement II are true.

Answer 1

Statement I is correct but Statement II is false.

Explanation:

Gause's Competitive Exclusion Principle asserts that two species cannot stably coexist if they occupy the same ecological niche and rely on the same limiting resources. In such a scenario, the species with even a slight advantage will outcompete and eventually eliminate the inferior one.

• Herbivores and Plants: These groups typically experience more severe competitive pressure compared to carnivores.
• Lower Trophic Levels: Competition is often most intense at the base of the food chain, where primary producers like plants and algae face significant pressure over shared environmental resources.