colog ical ▁algebra , ▁as ▁illustrated ▁in ▁the ▁simple ▁Ver h ul st ▁equation ▁of ▁population ▁dynamics : ▁▁▁▁ ▁where ▁r ▁is ▁the ▁growth ▁rate ▁of ▁the ▁population ▁( N ), ▁and ▁K ▁is ▁the ▁carrying ▁capacity ▁of ▁its ▁local ▁environmental ▁setting . ▁Typ ically , ▁r - selected ▁species ▁explo it ▁empty ▁nich es , ▁and ▁produce ▁many ▁off spring , ▁each ▁of ▁whom ▁has ▁a ▁relatively ▁low ▁probability ▁of ▁surv iving ▁to ▁ad ul th ood . ▁In ▁contrast , ▁K - selected ▁species ▁are ▁strong ▁compet itors ▁in ▁crow ded ▁nich es , ▁and ▁invest ▁more ▁heavily ▁in ▁much ▁fewer ▁off spring , ▁each ▁with ▁a ▁relatively ▁high ▁probability ▁of ▁surv iving ▁to ▁ad ul th ood . ▁ ▁Compet itive ▁ex clusion ▁principle ▁▁ ▁To ▁explain ▁how ▁species ▁co exist , ▁in ▁ 1 9 3 4 ▁Georg ii ▁G ause ▁proposed ▁the ▁compet itive ▁ex clusion ▁principle ▁which ▁is ▁also ▁called ▁the ▁G ause ▁principle : ▁species ▁cannot ▁co exist ▁if ▁they ▁have ▁the ▁same ▁e colog ical ▁n iche . ▁The ▁word ▁" n iche " ▁refers ▁to ▁a ▁species ' ▁requirements ▁for ▁surv ival ▁and ▁reprodu ction . ▁These ▁requirements ▁include ▁both ▁resources ▁( like ▁food ) ▁and ▁proper ▁habitat ▁conditions ▁( like ▁temperature ▁or ▁p H ). ▁G ause ▁reason ed ▁that ▁if ▁two ▁species ▁had ▁identical ▁nich es ▁( required ▁identical ▁resources ▁and ▁habit ats ) ▁they ▁would ▁attempt ▁to ▁live ▁in ▁exactly ▁the ▁same ▁area ▁and ▁would ▁comp ete ▁for ▁exactly ▁the ▁same