Final answer:
Resource partitioning occurs when two species are able to divide the resources in a niche without competing. This minimizes direct competition and allows them to coexist by occupying different microniches. It is a form of symbiosis and relates to the concept of ecological niche and the competitive exclusion principle.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept described in your question is called resource partitioning. When two species are able to divide the resources in a niche without competing, they minimize direct competition by occupying different microniches. This allows them to coexist by utilizing different resources or areas of the habitat. Resource partitioning can also occur through differences in feeding time.
Resource partitioning is a form of symbiosis, which refers to close interactions between individuals of different species over an extended period of time. In the broader definition of symbiosis, it includes both mutualistic relationships where both species benefit and other types of interactions as well.
All species have an ecological niche that represents their unique set of resources and interactions with other species. The competitive exclusion principle states that two species cannot occupy the exact same niche in a habitat. If they do, competition for the same resources will drive one species to extinction.