Which of the following could be true of two different species that have a competitive relationship in the same ecosystem?
A.
One species preys on the other.
B.
The relationship is mutually beneficial.
C.
They share the same niche.
D. One species benefits, while the other is neither helped nor harmed.
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To determine which of the options could be true of two different species with a competitive relationship in the same ecosystem, we can evaluate each option.
A. One species preys on the other: This scenario suggests a predator-prey relationship rather than a competitive relationship. In a competitive relationship, both species compete for the same resources.
B. The relationship is mutually beneficial: A mutually beneficial relationship is known as mutualism, where both species benefit from each other. However, in a competitive relationship, the species are competing for limited resources, and there is no mutual benefit.
C. They share the same niche: Sharing the same niche means that the species have similar requirements and occupy the same ecological role. This would result in strong competition for resources and is a possible characteristic of a competitive relationship.
D. One species benefits, while the other is neither helped nor harmed: This describes a commensalism relationship, where one species benefits while the other is unaffected. In a competitive relationship, both species are affected as they compete for resources. Therefore, this option is not true of a competitive relationship.
Based on the explanations above, the correct answer is C. They share the same niche.