The correct answer is Option (2) -Resource partitioning
Gause’s ‘Competitive Exclusion Principle’ states that two closely related species competing for the same resources cannot co-exist indefinitely and the competitively inferior one will be eliminated eventually. This may be true if resources are limiting, but not otherwise. More recent studies challenge the broad generalizations about competition and suggest that species facing competition can evolve mechanisms that promote coexistence instead of exclusion. One such mechanism is called "resource partitioning." When two species compete for the same resource, they can avoid direct competition by adopting different strategies, such as choosing different times for feeding or utilizing different foraging patterns.
For example, the research conducted by MacArthur demonstrated that five closely related species of warblers living on the same tree were able to coexist by exhibiting behavioral differences in their foraging activities. Each species occupied a specific niche within the tree and showed distinct preferences for different parts of the tree or foraging techniques. By partitioning the resources available within the tree, they minimized competition and created space for coexistence.
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