Resource Partitioning

Definition

Resource partitioning refers to the division of limited resources among different species in order to reduce competition. It allows species with similar ecological requirements to coexist by utilizing different parts of the same resource.

Related terms

Competitive Exclusion: When two or more species compete for the same resources in an ecosystem, one species may outcompete and eliminate another species from that particular niche.

Niche Differentiation: This term describes how similar species evolve slightly different traits or behaviors to occupy different niches within an ecosystem, reducing competition.

Ecological Succession: The process by which an ecosystem changes over time as new species colonize and replace existing ones due to changes in environmental conditions.