Gause's principle of competitive exclusion slales that

Options

A. No two species can occupy the same niche indefinilely for the same limiting resources.
B. Larger organisms exclude smaller ones through compelition
C. More abundanl species will exclude Ihe less abundanl species Ihrough
D. Competition for the same resources excludes species having different food preferences

Answer

**Step-by-Step Text Solution:**

1. **Understanding Gause's Principle**: Gause's principle, also known as the competitive exclusion principle, is a concept in ecology that explains how two species competing for the same limited resources cannot coexist indefinitely.

2. **Definition of Niche**: A niche refers to the role or function of an organism within its ecosystem, including its habitat, resource use, and interactions with other organisms.

3. **Competition for Resources**: When two species compete for the same resources (like food, space, or light), one species will typically outcompete the other. This is because they are both trying to utilize the same limited resources.

4. **Outcome of Competition**: According to Gause's principle, when two species compete for the same niche, one species will eventually dominate and exclude the other. This means that one species will thrive while the other will decline or be driven to extinction.

5. **Constant Ecological Factors**: The principle assumes that other ecological factors remain constant. This means that the environment does not change in a way that would allow both species to coexist.

6. **Conclusion**: Therefore, Gause's principle states that no two species can occupy the same niche indefinitely when competing for the same limited resources.

**Final Statement**: The correct interpretation of Gause's principle is that "no two species can occupy the same niche indefinitely for the same limited resources."

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