Which statement best describes character displacement in ecology?

• A. Increase in similarity to share resources
• B. Divergence in a trait that reduces competition
• C. No change in traits
• D. Random trait changes

Answer: (B)

Character displacement happens when species that live in the same area evolve differences in a trait to minimize competition for shared resources. When two species rely on similar resources, natural selection pushes them to use different parts of the niche, leading to divergence in traits like beak size, body shape, or feeding behavior. This divergence reduces direct competition and allows both species to coexist. A classic example is differences in beak size among related birds on islands where they share food resources. If species are separated and don’t compete, their traits may stay similar, and there’s less or no pressure to diverge. Random changes or a tendency to become more similar don’t explain this pattern. So the statement that best describes character displacement is divergence in a trait that reduces competition.