Question

Niche overlap indicates-
A. Active cooperation between two species
B. Two different parasites on the same host
C. Sharing of one or more resources between two species
D. Mutualism between two species.

Answer 1

Hint: In an ecosystem, several types of organisms reside together and form different types of interactions. The interactions are formed between the biotic as well as the abiotic components and the living organism use the different resources of the ecosystem.

Complete answer:
A niche is the particular area in an ecosystem in which a particular organism resides and responds to. It is the match of a species to a specific type of environmental conditions. Niche describes how an organism or population of living organisms responds to the distribution of resources and interaction such as competition.
The different types of species exist in a common space or niche where they share the different behaviors, adaptations, and other traits similar to the closely related species. In a common niche two or more species can coexist and develop. These species are closely related to the available resources and utilize them at the same time. In this process, the niche overlap takes place. Thus, the two or more organisms share the resources that are available to co-exist in the particular niche. When the two species use identical niches, niche overlap is complete in nature.
In an ecosystem, when a group of organisms work or act together for mutual benefit is called cooperation. In the process of cooperation, the benefit is mutually shared by all the different organisms that are involved in this process. Active cooperation is not a concept of niche overlap as the mutual benefits are brought about by the organism involved.
Mutualism is the interaction between the individuals of different species in which two or more species are benefitted together. In this process, the species fitness of both the species are mutually benefited. These types of arrangements are developed between the organisms which possess different types of living requirements. Hence, these organisms do not reside in identical niches and are not involved in niche overlap.

Hence, the correct answer is option (C).

Note: Niche overlap is the condition where two or more organisms reside and are involved in the same ecological areas utilizing the same resources. The niches of the organisms are identical to each other and so they overlap. The overlapping of the niches results in the organisms to share the common resources.