Complete answer:
You will find the table that provides data about the two species in the attached files.
Answer:
Because in the table provided you can see that, even when both species can use the same resources, certain vegetable species are eaten only by buffalo and not by cattle, while some other plants are eaten by cattle and not by buffalo.
Explanation:
The realized niche refers to the restricted conditions in which a species can live and survive as a result of environmental physic characteristics and the <u>interaction with other species</u>.
The competitive exclusion principle establishes that two or more species that share the same niche requirements and are in biological competition for the same resources, won´t be able to coexist indefinitely in the same space if the other ecological factors are constant. When the superior competitor occupies entirely the inferior competitor´s fundamental niche, the superior species has advantages over the other species and monopolizes all the resources. At this point, the inferior species is displaced and must adapt to use other resources changing its behavior, or must migrate to another area where it can get access to its needs, or get extinct.
Resources partitioning refers to one dominant species monopolizing the resources, and the other inferior species use other resources -partially or completely-, migrate or get extinguished. A way in which species can divide resources is by living in different habitat areas. These species might eat the same food, and can roost in different places within the habitat. This resource partitioning and differentiation in the function of their physical location allows both species to coexist more effectively.
In the exposed example, cattle and buffalo share the same fundamental niche, meaning that both of them can consume the same vegetable species, although in some cases, cattle eat certain species that buffalo does not, and vice-versa. Probably it occurred <u>resource partitioning</u> between these species, reflected in the fact that buffalo feeds on some species, while cattle feed on some other species.
