Explain Gause's Competitive Exclusion Principle with reference to two species competing for an identical, limiting resource.

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G. F. Gause studied two closely related protozoan species, Paramecium aurelia and Paramecium caudatum. When grown separately in laboratory culture, each species thrived on its own. But when the two species were grown together in the same culture vessel, drawing on the same finite food supply, P. aurelia proved to be a marginally more efficient competitor and progressively out-competed P. caudatum, eventually eliminating it from the mixed culture entirely. From this result, Gause proposed the Competitive Exclusion Principle: two species that compete for exactly the same limited resource cannot coexist indefinitely in the same place, because even a small difference in competitive efficiency will, given enough time, allow one species to …

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CBSE 2023Set ANNUAL1 markMCQ
$Q. Competition between species leads to :$
(a) Amensalism
(b) Extinction
(c) Symbiosis
(d) Mutation
›Reveal solutionSolution

Interspecific competition, when sustained, drives the weaker competitor toward local extinction (competitive exclusion principle).

When two species compete intensely for an identical limiting resource, one species is usually better adapted and out-competes the other over time. Gause's competitive exclusion principle states that two species competing for the same limiting resource cannot co-exist indefinitely in the same niche — the less efficient competitor is eventually eliminated (locally extinct) unless it shifts its niche. Option (a) Amensalism is a different interaction where one species is harmed and the other is unaffected (e.g., a sapling in the shade of a large tree), not a consequence of competition. Option (c) Symbiosis is a mutually beneficial interaction, the opposite of competition. Optio …

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CBSE 2016Set ANNUAL1 markMCQ
$Q. Struggle between cow and cow for getting grass is called _______.$
(a) inter-specific struggle
(b) environmental struggle
(c) struggle against natural calamities
(d) intra-specific struggle
›Reveal solutionSolution

Competition between individuals of the same species for a shared resource is intra-specific struggle.

Darwin classified the struggle for existence into three types: intra-specific struggle (competition among individuals of the same species for limited resources like food, mates, or space), inter-specific struggle (competition between individuals of different species, e.g. predator-prey or two species competing for the same resource), and struggle against nature/environment (competition against unfavourable physical/climatic factors such as drought, cold, or natural calamities). Since two cows (members of the s …

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Q.Explain Gause's Competitive Exclusion Principle with reference to two species competing for an identical, limiting resource.

Concept understanding — Competition

Q.Explain Gause's Competitive Exclusion Principle with reference to two species competing for an identical, limiting resource.

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