Question

As you study two closely related predatory insect species, the two-spot and the three-spot avenger beetles, you notice that each species seeks prey at dawn in areas without the other species. However, where their ranges overlap, the two-spot avenger beetle hunts at night and the three-spot hunts in the morning. When you bring them into the laboratory and isolate the two different species, you discover that the offspring of both species are nocturnal. You have discovered an example of ________.a. Batesian mimicry
b. mutualism
c. resource partitioning
d. character displacement

Answer 1

Answer:

d. Character displacement

Explanation:

Character displacement is the phenomenon in which the similar species living in the same geographical region with similar niches differentiate in order to reduce their niche overlap and avoid competitive exculsion. Just like in this case of two- spot and three -spot avenger beetles as their timmings for hunting is different where their ranges overlap. So it's the good example of character displacement,

Answer 2

Answer: The correct answer is option D

CHARACTER DISPLACEMENT

Explanation: Character displacement is a type of evolutionary change or divergence,in character displacement, two similar species inhabit the same environment. under such conditions, natural selection favors a divergence in the characters,morphology(forms), ecology (relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings), behaviors, or physiology (functions) of the organisms.

Character displacement is caused by when similar species that live in the same geographical region, occupying similar niches differentiate themselves so as to minimize/reduce niche overlap and avoid competitive exclusion/ behaviours among themselves.

From the explanation given,character displacement is clearly seen in the avenger beetles from the question.