The monarch butterfly is poisonous to birds and so birds avoid eating them.Viceroy butterflies look very similar to monarch butterflies but are not poisonous.Because they look like monarch butterflies,birds also do not eat viceroy butterflies.This is an example of
A) resource partitioning.
B) competitive exclusion.
C) mimicry.
D) camouflage.
E) commensalism.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This phenomenon is an example of mimicry. Viceroy butterflies have evolved to look like monarch butterflies to fool birds into thinking they are also poisonous, thus avoiding being eaten. This is a strategy used by prey to reduce their chances of being eaten by predators. Resource partitioning refers to the division of limited resources between different species to reduce competition, while competitive exclusion refers to one species outcompeting another for resources. Camouflage involves blending in with the environment, and commensalism refers to a relationship where one species benefits and the other is neither harmed nor helped.

The Monarch Butterfly Is Poisonous to Birds and So Birds