Niche partitioning is a process in ecology where competing species evolve to occupy different ecological niches, reducing competition for resources and allowing them to coexist
. This concept is drawn from the African savanna, where large mammalian herbivores like zebras and wildebeest partition their habitat to minimize competition
. There are several ways in which species can partition their niches, including:
- Spatial niche partitioning : Species divide their habitat based on space, time, or height, reducing direct competition for resources
- Resource partitioning : Species use different resources, such as food sources, to minimize competition for shared resources
. This can lead to new traits evolving in species that can exploit resources that other competing species cannot use as effectively
- Temporal niche partitioning : Species may divide resources based on time, allowing them to access different resources at different times
Niche partitioning is important because it helps maintain species diversity and allows species to coexist in areas where they might otherwise compete for resources
. For example, the anole lizards found on the island of Puerto Rico have evolved different species that make use of different resources, reducing competition between them
. This process has been demonstrated in various studies, such as the evolutionary events that followed the colonization of the Galapagos Islands by a single species of seed-eating finch
