Which of the following statements is/are correct ?

Options

A. Two species may not live in the same habitat.
B. The more dissimilar the niches of two species, the stronger is competition between them
C. No two species can occupy exactly the same niche in the same geographical area.
D. All of these

Answer

To determine which statements are correct, we will analyze each statement provided in the question step by step.

### Step 1: Analyze the first statement
- The first statement claims that two species may not live in the same habitat.
- This statement is incorrect because ecosystems are composed of various species that coexist in the same habitat. Different species can share the same habitat and interact with one another in complex ways.

### Step 2: Analyze the second statement
- The second statement suggests that the more dissimilar the niches of two species, the stronger the competition between them.
- This statement is also incorrect. Competition occurs when species require similar resources. If the niches are dissimilar, the competition is likely to be weaker, as the species are not vying for the same resources.

### Step 3: Analyze the third statement
- The third statement asserts that no two species can occupy exactly the same niche in the same geographical area.
- This statement is correct and is based on the competitive exclusion principle proposed by Gause. According to this principle, if two species compete for the same resources, one will eventually outcompete the other, leading to the exclusion of the less competitive species.

### Conclusion
- After analyzing all statements, we find that the first and second statements are incorrect, while the third statement is correct.

### Final Answer
- The correct statement is: **C. No two species can occupy exactly the same niche in the same geographical area.**

---