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Test Your Knowledge: Module 1

Question 3 of 4

A black-crowned night heron perched on a branch. A striated heron perched on a branch.
Common name Black-crowned night heron Striated heron
Scientific name Nycticorax nycticorax Butorides striata
Family Ardeidae Ardeidae
Habitat wetlands wetlands
Hunting method stand still and ambush prey at water's edge stand still and ambush prey at water's edge
Diet fish, frogs, aquatic insects fish, frogs, aquatic insects
Foraging time evening, night, and early morning during the day
Nesting behavior build colonies of nests build colonies of nests

Black-crowned night herons and striated herons are two related heron species that live in Mpala. Many aspects of their niches are similar, as shown in the table below. Based on these data, these species partition niches by:

By feeding at different times, these two heron species avoid competing for access to the same resources, which helps them coexist.

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