Question

2. Animals which share the same space must compete for resources. Which answer is the best example of this?

A. The cattle egret will stay close to grazing animals. When grazing animals move, they stir up insects, which the egret then eats.

B. Some species of orchid look like a female bee. This attracts male bees, who leave pollen so that the orchid can reproduce.

C. Humans cut down forests and built roads in the Florida Everglades. The Florida panthers living there had less territory and their population declined.

D. Rhesus monkeys were released into the wild along Florida's Silver River. The monkeys have adapted to the environment and have lived there for over eighty years.​

Answer 1

The best example of animals competing for resources is option A. The cattle egret benefits from the presence of grazing animals, as they stir up insects that the egret can then eat. This is an example of commensalism, where one species benefits from the presence of another species without harming or benefiting it. However, it still reflects competition for resources, as multiple species are utilizing the same space and resources (in this case, insects). Option B describes a form of mimicry used for reproduction, while option C describes the negative impact of human activity on a specific species. Option D describes the successful adaptation of a species to a new environment, but it does not involve competition for resources.