托福口语 Task 4

Today we're going to talk about a fascinating concept in animal behavior called 'temporal partitioning.' In simple terms, this is when different species that share the same habitat avoid competition by being active at different times of the day or night. This allows them to use the same resources without directly fighting over them. Let me give you two clear examples. First, consider the African savanna. Lions and cheetahs both hunt similar prey, like antelopes. But lions are mostly active at night, while cheetahs hunt during the early morning and late afternoon. By hunting at different times, they reduce direct competition for food. Second, think about tropical rainforests. Here, some bat species feed on nectar from flowers, and so do certain moths. The bats are nocturnal, visiting flowers at night, while the moths are active during twilight hours, just before dawn and after dusk. This temporal separation means they rarely encounter each other while feeding, so both can thrive in the same forest without exhausting the same nectar supply.