The zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha, was introduced to the United States in the late 1980s from its native habitat in eastern Europe, brought accidentally by ships entering the canals of the Great Lakes. The dense populations are threatening many native species of mollusc with extinction. This is an example of:
A) intraspecific competition.
B) competitive exclusion.
C) resource partitioning.
D) niche separation.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha, competes with native mollusc species for resources such as food and space, often leading to the decline or extinction of native species. This is an example of competitive exclusion, where one species outcompetes another in a shared environment, leading to the displacement of the less competitive species.

The Zebra Mussel, Dreissena Polymorpha, Was Introduced to the United