Question

Small ground finches (Geospiza fuliginosa) in the Galapagos feed on flower nectar as well as seeds. Carpenter bees (Xylocopa darwinii) compete with finches for the nectar. Larger finches depend mostly on seeds. On islands having carpenter bees, ground finches are larger and drink less nectar than on islands without them. This is an example in which evolution has produced..

mutualism.

commensalism.

restoration ecology.

resource partitioning.

Answer 1

The above is an example of resource partitioning. Resource partitioning enables species to coexist despite being in competition for the same resources.

Here, both the carpenter finches and ground finches consume nectar, and later can also consume seeds. In places where carpenter finches are absent, ground finches consume both nectar and seeds, whereas when the former is present, it ground finches are less dependent on nectar as there is competition between the two finches for nectar. Hence, resource partitioning takes place.