Final answer:
Resource partitioning enables species to coexist by reducing direct competition through specialization in different resources, times of activity, or habitat areas. The competitive exclusion principle reinforces the need for such specialization between species. Symbiosis also plays a role by establishing long-term interactions that affect community structure.
Step-by-step explanation:
Resource partitioning allows multiple species to coexist in the same area by minimizing direct competition for resources. It involves different species evolving to utilize different resources, areas of the habitat, or to feed at different times, leading to the occupation of different microniches. Instead of competing for the exact same resources, species adapt to specialize on different aspects of a resource. This is essential due to the competitive exclusion principle, which states that two species cannot occupy the exact same niche, as direct competition for identical resources would lead to the exclusion or extinction of the less efficient species.
Symbiotic relationships further explain how species can closely interact and often coexist in the same habitat. Symbiosis includes mutualism, where both species benefit, and other types of interactions like commensalism and parasitism, which also impact the resource availability and use within the community.