Competition is a process in which the individuals of the same or different species compete with each other for the available resources. Resource refers to the raw material required for the sustenance of life. Such competition results in winner and a loser, a particular organism that wins the competition is the winner whereas the other competitor is called the loser. Winner survives but the loser tends to perish in the ecosystem. When the phenomenon of survival of the fittest of natural selection operates, it tends to select the organisms that win the competition and eliminates the other species that cannot compete in the competition. This is often referred to as the competitive exclusion principle.
“Competitive exclusion principle states that no two organisms can be present at the same niche at the same time in the same habitat.” Hence, option (a) is correct.
Predation is a type of interaction in which one organism hunts the other for the food. Generally, carnivorous organisms in the ecosystem feed on the herbivores or small carnivorous animals to meet their nutritional requirements. This may not lead to the disappearance of the population. Hence, option (b) is incorrect.
Parasitism is an association in which out of the two species that involve in the association, one species is benefited whereas the other one is harmed. The species that is benefitted exploits the other organism as resource for its benefit. Therefore, option (c) is incorrect.
Commensalism is an interaction between the individuals of different species in which only one partner is benefited but the other one is neither benefited nor harmed. Therefore, option (d) is incorrect.
Mutualism is the association between two species in which both of them are benefited from their association. Therefore, option (e) is incorrect.
Therefore, the disappearance of a population in a given niche as a result of direct competition with another species for a resource is called (a) competitive exclusion.