43
QuizMultiple Choice

N/A — Exam

Question 43 • Biology

Interactions between organisms and their environment impact the organism’s overall population. Zebra mussels are not native North America; they were brought here by ships travelling from Europe. They reproduce quickly and filter out plankton from the water reducing food for native fish. Native fish populations have started to decline. Which concept shows the relationship between zebra mussels and native fish?

Answer
A
competitive exclusion principle
B
adaptation principle
C
niche relationship
D
predator-prey relationship

Explanation

Zebra mussels and native fish both rely on plankton as a food resource. Because the mussels filter out plankton, less food is available to the fish, so they compete for a limited resource. This illustrates the competitive exclusion principle, in which competing species may cause one another to decline when they use the same resources.

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