Competitive Exclusion Principle
The competitive exclusion principle was proposed in 1934 by a Russian ecologist Georgy Gause, hence the name ‘Gause’s Law’. According to this concept in ecology, two species with identical or similar niches, competing for the same resources, cannot coexist.
One of the species will outgrow the other and the species with the inferior niche will go extinct over time. However, two species whose niches overlap may evolve to have more distinct niches, resulting in resource partitioning. The competitive exclusion principle can also lead to the extinction of the weaker competitor or to an evolutionary or behavioral shift toward a different ecological niche.
Also Read: Difference Between Environment and Ecology
Competitive Exclusion Principle
Competitive Exclusion Principle, also known as Gause’s law, states that two species that compete for the same resource cannot coexist; over time, one species may outcompete the other, leading to the elimination of the inferior species. In ecology, there are two types of competition: Intraspecies and Interspecies competition. Competition is a vital stage in the sequence of ecological succession. It can benefit the broader ecosystem by promoting biodiversity through niche partitioning.
This article discusses the significance of the competitive exclusion principle and the types of competition that exist in nature, competition-minimizing strategies that species use to efficiently enhance the biodiversity of their ecosystem.
Table of Content
- Competitive Exclusion Principle
- Example of Competitive Exclusion Principle
- Types of Competitions in Competitive Exclusion
- Intraspecific Competition
- Strategies Helpful in Minimizing Competition