Question

Picocyanobacteria are photosynthetic bacteria that live in the ocean. Two species, isolated from the same habitat, have been found to use different wavelengths of light in photosynthesis. This is an example of

Select one:

a. niche differentiation

b. realized niche

c. competitive exclusion

d. commensalism

Answer 1

This is the example of niche differentiation  

Option a is right option . Niche differentiation is the ecological process by which two species differentiat their niche to reduce competition and they can co exist. They can differentiate their food habits or functioning area or habitat to segregate their niche

Here two species of picocyanobacteria live in same habitat i.e they do not differentiate their habitat both are photosynthetic but they use different wavelength of light to reduce competition i.e they differentiate their niche hence it is right option

(  Niche or fundamental niche is the specific environmental conditions where a species can perfectly exist , the functional area of a speceis in an environment where it takes foods, competes with other, it survives, reproduce and exists)  

Option b wrong option  ​​​​​​.   realized nichhe is the part of fundamental nichhe (or niche ) that is result of limiting factors of a habitat i.e the reduced or actually occupied niche due to competition , predation etc . The species adapt itself to the limited resources and then the niche of that species will be realised niche .it can be a result of niche differentiation  

Here two picocyanobacteria use different wavelength i.e they occupie different niche hence there is no need of compromise or competition and realized niche is the result of compromise and competition hence this is wrong option.

Option c is totally wrong as competitive exclusion means complete competitor can not co exist , one species could be excluded by the dominant species when they are competing for same recorces.

Here two picocyanobacterias use different wavelength of light for photosynthesis i. e they are not competing for same resources and no speceis is excluded by other species ,hence above said phenomenon is not an example of competetive exclusion .

Option d- commensalism is wrong option. As commensalism is a biological relationship between two species where one species is benefited ( by obtaining food or other essential objects ) from the other species but the other species neither harmed nor benefited.

Here no commensalism is found in given question as no species is benefited by other one hence option d cant be right option.