When two Appalachian salamander species occur in separate habitats, they have the same morphological characteristics.However, when they occur in the same habitat, one species has a faster-closing jaw, which enables it to feed on larger prey.The other has a slower, stronger jaw that accommodates smaller prey.This situation represents a form of _______, which has led to _______.
A) intraspecific competition; character displacement
B) interspecific competition; character displacement
C) exploitation competition; resource limitation
D) exploitation competition; competitive exclusion
E) interference competition; competitive exclusion

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fact that the two salamander species have the same morphological characteristics in separate habitats suggests that there is no competition between them, but when they occur in the same habitat, they exhibit different jaw characteristics to minimize competition for food resources. This is an example of interspecific competition, which has led to character displacement.

When Two Appalachian Salamander Species Occur in Separate Habitats, They