Question

The great hornbill and the toucan both eat the same fruit, insects, and nuts. They both live in the rainforest. Their large bills function to get food and also as warning coloration. Which of the following is a limiting factor to the toucan population?
overlapping breeding seasons
bill coloration
genetic variability
competition

Answer 1

The correct answer is D. Competition.

Explanation

A limiting factor is a term that refers to the scarcity factor of a resource that limits the development and evolution of a specific species or process. According to what is described in the question, it can be inferred that the limiting factor of toucans is competition because the great hornbill lives in the same tropical forest as the toucan, it feeds on the same foods as the toucan: fruit, insects, and walnuts. So, competition for the same resources is a limiting factor for toucans since the absence of food can affect their development. So the correct respect is the D. Competition.