Strong and weak competitors can coexist in the same niche
نویسندگان
چکیده
The competitive exclusion principle postulates that two trophically identical but fitness different species can not stably coexist in the same niche. However, this principle contradicts the observed nature's species richness. This fact is known as the biodiversity paradox. Here using a simple cellular automaton model we mechanistically show how two trophically identical, but fitness different species may stably coexist in the same niche. As environment is stable and any tradeoffs are absent in this model, it strongly violates the competitive exclusion principle.
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