In 1990 the spotted owl was given protection with the Endang

In 1990 the spotted owl was given protection with the Endangered Species Act. At that time the main threat to this owl was the loss of old-growth forests. However, even with the protection of old-growth forests, this owl has shown no sign of recovery. Since the 1940s the barred owl has been moving west into forests once occupied by the spotted owl. Given the two niches you described above, define the competitive exclusion principle and state what this principle might say is happening to the northern spotted owl.

Solution

Gause\'s competitive exclusion principle states that no two species can share the same niches. When circumstances lead to invasion of one species into the niche of the other. They compete for the resources and eventually, either of them excludes the other.

In the above case, invasion of barred owl in the niches of specialist spotted owl led to competition between the two species. As a result, the spotted owl is now on the verge of extinction.