Competitive exclusion principle

The competitive exclusion principle states that two species competing for the exact same resources in the same environment cannot coexist indefinitely, because one will eventually outcompete the other and drive it to extinction or force it to relocate. This happens because the superior competitor gains an advantage in obtaining food, space, or other necessities, leaving the weaker competitor with insufficient resources to survive. In nature, this principle helps explain why we see such diverse species occupying different ecological niches rather than a few dominant species monopolizing all environments.