Answer:
Resource partitioning
Explanation:
Resource partitioning is a phenomenon that allows organisms competing for the same resources in the same ecological niche to coexist.
According to competitive exclusion principle, organisms (be it the same or different species) competing for the same resources in the same environment cannot coexist indefinitely, one will eventually have to give way.
However, with resource partitioning, limited resources are divided among organisms in such a way that competition is excluded.
The two species of buttercup demonstrated the phenomenon of resource partitioning. They shared resources so as to excluded intra-specific competition within the niche. Hence, when one of the species was removed from the niche, the other species thrived because more resources became available for its use.