Is resource partitioning a type of character displacement?

Question

**Question** Imagine two related species. They prey on the same species but avoid competition by feeding at different times of the day. Is this a type of character displacement? **Thought** On one hand I have the Galapagos Finch example, which is typically used to illustrate character displacement. But since resource partitioning is more behavioral than anatomical, is resource partitioning a subset of character displacement or a rough overlap or none?

Answer 1

This is technically character displacement, the fact that they both feed on the same prey but at different times means they're in somewhat different ecological niches. Resource partitioning isn't more so behavioral than anatomical, but both are related to specific phenotypes, which should not be disregarded when evaluating species. The characteristic being displaced can be behavior-based. Evolution-wise, both species have evolved over time to feed at different times to reduce competition or any overlap between their two separate niches (a.k.a character displacement). Definitely check the question once more, in case it specifie be behavior-based. Evolution-wise, both species have evolved over time to feed at different times to reduce competition or any overlap between their two separate niches (a.k.a character displacement). Definitely check the question once more, in case it specifies that sympatry occurred. That usually helps with indicating that the species had diverged at one point over time. Its possible the two species might have diverged before sympatry occurred but it's not very likely if that's the case.

Remember :

when identifying character displacement, you have to compare the two populations where the both occur and where they occur alone in a region. If the two species differ in appearance, behavior, etc. when they're in the same ecosystem vs when they're not then that's character displacement. If they have different morphologies etc whether together or alone then it's not.