Given below are two statements.

Statement-I : Gause's 'Competitive Exclusion Principle' states that two closely related species competing for the same resources cannot co-exist indefinitely and competitively inferior one will be eliminated eventually.

Statement-II : In general, carnivores are more adversely affected by competition than herbivores.

In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below.

Statement I is correct but statement II is false.
SI: Gause’s ‘Competitive Exclusion Principle’ states that when two closely related species compete for the same
Resources within an ecological niche, they cannot coexist indefinitely. The competitively inferior species will
Eventually be eliminated or excluded from the ecosystem.
The principle is based on the idea that if two species have similar ecological requirements and compete for the
same limited resources, such as food, water or habitat, the species with an advantage in resource utilization will
outcompete and outgrow the other species.
Over time, the superior competitor will utilize resources more efficiently, reproduce more successfully, and
Increase its population size. Meanwhile, the competitively inferior species will face reduced access to resources,
decreased fitness and, ultimately, decline in population size or local extinction.
SII: In general, herbivores are more adversely affected by competition than carnivores. This is due to several factors:
1. Resource availability: Herbivores primarily rely on plants as their food source. Plants, being stationary, are often more limited in availability compared to mobile animal prey. Herbivores compete for access to limited vegetation, especially in areas where food resources may be scarce or seasonally variable.
2. Energy transfer efficiency: Herbivores occupy a lower trophic level compared to carnivores. Herbivores need to consume a larger quantity of plant material to meet their energy requirements, making them more dependent on a stable and abundant food supply.
3. Carnivorous adaptations: Carnivores have adaptations that allow them to be more efficient predators. For example,
They possess sharp teeth and claws, enhanced senses, agility and speed. Their ability to efficiently hunt and capture prey reduces their dependence on limited resources and decreases their vulnerability to competition, compared to herbivores.
4. Niche specialization: Carnivores often exhibit more niche specialization than herbivores. They can specialize
in hunting specific prey species, occupy different habitat types or have different feeding strategies. This niche specialization reduces direct competition among carnivores.