IB Biology SL B4.2.13 Competitive Exclusion Questions

Explore Gause’s Paramecium evidence and invasive-species examples to explain how overlapping niches and limiting resources lead to replacement or exclusion in IB Biology SL…

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State and explain competitive exclusion: two species with the same niche cannot coexist indefinitely because one outcompetes the other for a limiting resource.
Interpret Gause’s Paramecium mixed-culture or other niche-overlap data to identify which species is excluded, replaced or restricted in distribution.

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Study B4.2.13—Competitive exclusion conceptsOpen the corresponding Concept lesson for explanations, examples and exam connections.

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Ecologists studied the distribution of five species of insectivorous wood warblers of the genus Dendorica living on different parts of coniferous trees in mature forests.

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Outline the principle of competitive exclusion

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a	no two species can occupy the same niche;
b	competition between them would cause one species to drive the other out OR one of the two species would need to adapt and evolve accordingly;

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IB Biology SL B4.2.13 Competitive Exclusion Questions question 1