Final answer:
Adaptations help species manage competition by allowing them to occupy different niches or habitats and utilize different resources.
Step-by-step explanation:
Competition among species is a driving force in evolution. To manage competition, species can develop adaptations. Adaptations are traits or characteristics that make an organism better suited to survive and reproduce in its specific environment.
For example, different bird species can develop different beak shapes to eat different types of food. This allows them to coexist by reducing competition for resources.
Moreover, the concept of co-evolution reflects the ongoing 'arms race' among species, where each small evolutionary advantage can dictate survival. This is encapsulated by the Red Queen Hypothesis, which suggests that species must continually evolve to maintain their ecological niche. A supportive scenario for this hypothesis would be (b), where a snail population is decimated by a parasite, indicating their inability to adapt quickly enough to changing conditions, unlike sexually reproducing species that maintain greater genetic variability to respond to such challenges.
Finally, intraspecific competition influences species' survival as well, where individuals of the same species vie for the same resources. The organisms that are better equipped for their environment usually prevail, as manifested in a taller tree's capacity to access more light than its shorter neighbor.
Therefore, adaptations help species manage competition by allowing them to occupy different niches or habitats and utilize different resources.