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Question 1:

What is competition in ecology?

A) The interaction where two organisms mutually benefit from each other
B) The consumption of plant material by animals
C) The interaction where two organisms try to use the same limited resource
D) The interaction where one organism benefits and the other is harmed

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Explanation: The correct answer is C) The interaction where two organisms try to use the same limited resource. Competition in ecology refers to the struggle between organisms for limited resources such as food, water, or territory. Organisms that compete for the same resource may experience reduced access to the resource and increased competition for survival and reproduction.

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Question 2:

What is resource partitioning?

A) The interaction where two organisms mutually benefit from each other
B) The consumption of plant material by animals
C) The division of limited resources among different species to reduce competition
D) The interaction where one organism benefits and the other is harmed

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Explanation: The correct answer is C) The division of limited resources among different species to reduce competition. Resource partitioning is a strategy used by different species to coexist and reduce competition for limited resources. It involves utilizing different parts of the resource or occupying different niches within an ecosystem to minimize direct competition and maximize access to resources.

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Question 3:

Which of the following is an example of intraspecific competition?

A) A lion hunting and killing a zebra
B) Two different species of birds competing for the same nesting sites
C) A male peacock displaying its colorful feathers to attract a female
D) Plants of the same species competing for sunlight and nutrients

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Explanation: The correct answer is D) Plants of the same species competing for sunlight and nutrients. Intraspecific competition refers to competition between individuals of the same species. In this example, plants of the same species compete for essential resources like sunlight and nutrients, which are limited in the environment.

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Question 4:

Which of the following is an example of resource partitioning?

A) Two different species of birds competing for the same nesting sites
B) A predator capturing and feeding on its prey
C) A clownfish living among the tentacles of a sea anemone
D) A spider capturing and consuming insects caught in its web

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Explanation: The correct answer is A) Two different species of birds competing for the same nesting sites. Resource partitioning involves the division of resources among different species to reduce competition. In this example, different bird species may occupy different parts of the habitat or use distinct nesting sites within the same area, reducing direct competition for nesting resources.

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Question 5:

What is competitive exclusion?

A) The interaction where two organisms mutually benefit from each other
B) The consumption of plant material by animals
C) The elimination of one species from a habitat due to intense competition with another species
D) The interaction where one organism benefits and the other is harmed

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Explanation: The correct answer is C) The elimination of one species from a habitat due to intense competition with another species. Competitive exclusion, also known as Gause's principle, occurs when two species compete for the same resources in a habitat, leading to the extinction or elimination of one of the species. The more efficient competitor outperforms the other, eventually excluding it from the environment.