Question

Different species of bumblebee compete for flower nectar in their ecosystem. While the flowers vary in the length of their petals, bumblebees vary in the length of a mouth part called a proboscis. Bumblebees demonstrate a preference for flowers that correspond to the length of their proboscis. Species with proboscises of similar length tend to occupy different areas. Species that live in the same area tend to have proboscises of different lengths. Which of the following best explains the relationship between the different bumblebee species living in the same area?

a. The bumblebees have undergone allopatric speciation due to geographic isolation.
b. The bumblebees have undergone niche partitioning due to competition.
c. The bumblebees have a mutualistic relationship with other bumblebee species due to natural selection.
d. The bumblebees have a commensalistic relationship due to the variety of niches that are available.

Answer 1

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Answer 2

b. The bumblebees have undergone niche partitioning due to competition.

Step-by-step explanation:

The principle and theory of niche partitioning is based on our interpretation of biodiversity. The mechanism by which natural selection forces competing organisms into separate resource use patterns, behaviors, trends, or niches is attributed to niche partitioning. This distinction in the ecological niche helps to decreases competition and encourages species coexistence.

In the given information:

The ability of the bumblebees to be able to give preference over the choice of flowers that relates to the length of their proboscis, the ability of the species of the same proboscis length to think of occupying different areas, and the coexistence of species that possess different proboscis length to accommodate each other in the same environment tends to solve a common problem is known as Niche Partitioning and the ultimate goal is to reduce competition.