What does the principle of competitive exclusion state?

The principle of competitive exclusion states that two species cannot coexist in the same niche if they are competing for the same limited resources. This means that if two species occupy the same habitat and utilize the same resource, one species is likely to outcompete the other, leading to the decline or extinction of the less competitive species.

This concept highlights the importance of resource limitation in ecosystems, where competition for food, space, or other essentials can drastically influence species distribution and community structure. It emphasizes that for two species to coexist, they must have different ecological niches or resource utilizations, which allows them to minimize direct competition. Understanding this principle helps in studying biodiversity and the dynamics of species interactions within ecosystems.