Niche Partitioning in the African Savanna

What is niche partitioning?

• A strategy where species evolve to become identical

• A method where species compete for the same resources

• A mechanism where species divide resources by using their environment differently

• A process where species migrate to different ecosystems

Which grass is used as an example of resource partitioning in the savanna?

• Panicum maximum

• Cynodon dactylon

• Sorghum bicolor

• Zea mays

Why do zebras thrive when the grass is tall and abundant?

• They only eat the most nutritious parts of the grass

• They regurgitate and rechew their food

• They can digest food quickly and have teeth suited for tall stems

• They have a four-chambered stomach for better digestion

What is a characteristic of ruminants like wildebeests and Thomson’s gazelles?

• They have a single-chambered stomach

• They digest food via fermentation in the hindgut

• They have a four-chambered stomach and regurgitate food

• They can digest food faster than zebras

When does the relative density of wildebeests peak?

• Three months after the peak rain

• Five months after the peak rain

• Immediately after the peak rain

• Two months after the peak rain

What happens to the relative density of Thomson’s gazelles over time?

• It remains constant throughout the year

• It peaks immediately after the peak rain

• It increases gradually and peaks five months after the rain

• It decreases after the peak rain

How do ecologists typically view the interactions between zebras, wildebeests, and Thomson’s gazelles?

• As competitive interactions

• As predatory interactions

• As facilitative interactions

• As parasitic interactions

Which of the following is an example of dietary niche partitioning?

• Bees and moths collecting nectar at different times

• Two bird species using different parts of the same tree for food

• Different grasses using roots to access water at various depths

• Animals migrating to different regions during different seasons