Ecology
Niche Partitioning
The process by which competing species evolve to use resources differently, dividing the available niche space and reducing competition. Also called resource partitioning.
Biological Context
Warblers in the same forest feed at different heights in trees. Lizards on the same island eat different-sized prey. Darwin's finches evolved different beak sizes to exploit different seeds. Niche partitioning allows similar species to coexist by reducing competition intensity.
Business Application
Market niche partitioning: competitors differentiate by serving different customer segments, geographies, or use cases. Price tiers, feature sets, and target demographics are ways companies partition market niches.