In his study of the foraging behavior of bumblebees, D. W. Inouye noted that both Bombus appositus and Bombus flavifrons feed from both larkspur and monkshood flowers when each is the only bumblebee species present. However, when both species are present, B. appositus feeds on only larkspur and B. flavifrons specializes on monkshood. This behavior is an example of:

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This behavior is an example of resource partitioning, where the two species divide up the available resources (larkspur and monkshood flowers) to reduce competition and maximize their own chances of survival and reproduction. Each species specializes on one type of flower when both are present, which reduces competition and allows both species to coexist in the same habitat.

In His Study of the Foraging Behavior of Bumblebees, D