On the slopes of the Washington Cascades, ecologists have studied some closely related vole species for decades. Many of these vole species, when they occur on separate mountains, tend to choose very similar seed sizes for food. However, when these species occur together on the same mountain slope, their food choices tend to differ, with some species selecting small seeds and others feeding exclusively on larger seeds. This behavior may be an example of
A) resource partitioning.
B) habitat fragmentation.
C) intraspecific range diversion.
D) niche fragmentation.
E) intraspecific competition.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Resource partitioning occurs when species divide resources, such as food, to reduce competition, which is what the voles are doing by selecting different seed sizes when they coexist.

On the Slopes of the Washington Cascades, Ecologists Have Studied