Intersexual segregation in foraging microhabitat use by Magellanic Woodpeckers (Campephilus magellanicus): Seasonal and habitat effects at the world's southernmost forests

Animals facing seasonal food shortage and habitat degradation may adjust their foraging behaviour to reduce intraspecific competition. In the harsh environment of the world's southernmost forests in the Magellanic sub‐Antarctic ecoregion in Chile, we studied intersexual foraging differences in the largest South American woodpecker species, the Magellanic Woodpecker (Campephilus magellanicus). We assessed whether niche overlap between males and females decrease when food resources are less abundant or accessible, that is, during winter and in secondary forests, compared to summer and in old‐growth forests, respectively. We analysed 421 foraging microhabitat observations from six males and six females during 2011 and 2012. As predicted, the amount of niche overlap between males and females decreased during winter, when provisioning is more difficult. During winter, males and females (i) used trees with different diameter at breast height (DBH); (ii) fed in trunk sections with different diameters; and (iii) fed at different heights on tree trunks or branches. Vertical niche partitioning between sexes was found in both old‐growth and secondary forests. Such a niche partitioning during winter may be a seasonal strategy to avoid competition between sexes when prey resources are less abundant or accessible. Our results suggest that the conservation of this forest specialist, dimorphic and charismatic woodpecker species requires considering differences in habitat use between males and females.     

Temporal patterns of seed use and availability in a guild of desert ants

ABSTRACT.

• 1 Temporal patterns of seed use were studied from late winter to autumn in three species of seed-harvesting ants in the Sonoran Desert. Measures of effective foraging activity, dietary niche breadth and dietary niche overlaps were obtained each month and were tested for correlation with estimates of the available seed resource.
• 2 Seeds were the only numerically important type of food in the diets of all species.
• 3 The ants partitioned the resource according to both seed species and seed size, although there was considerable overlap.
• 4 Pheidole xerophila had the smallest forager body size and is a specialist on small seeds because it harvested them in greater proportion than their rank in the soils and expanded its diet to larger seeds only when the abundance of small seeds declined.
• 5 When the abundance of the small seeds of Bouteloua barbata decreased, the middle-sized ant, Veromessor pergandei, showed a decrease in foraging activity, increase in niche breadth, and a decrease in overlap with P.xerophila.
• 6 Seed size preferences of V.pergandei did not vary seasonally, except that during the month of highest seed abundance, V.pergandei showed no size preference.
• 7 Pogonomyrmex rugosus was the largest ant; it preferred larger seeds and was inactive when small seeds were most abundant. Seasonal foraging activity and niche parameters were random in relation to seed abundance.
• 8 We suggest that nocturnal foraging by P.rugosus during the summer months was a response to interference with diurnal foraging by either predation frorn horned lizards or competition from V.pergandei.
• 9 Seasonal abundance of small seeds explains most of the seasonal foraging patterns of P.xerophila and V.pergandei. The summertime abundance of larger seeds during years of adequate precipitation may account for the seasonal activity patterns of P.rugosus.

     

Persistent bill and corolla matching despite shifting temporal resources in tropical hummingbird‐plant interactions

By specialising on specific resources, species evolve advantageous morphologies to increase the efficiency of nutrient acquisition. However, many specialists face variation in resource availability and composition. Whether specialists respond to these changes depends on the composition of the resource pulses, the cost of foraging on poorly matched resources, and the strength of interspecific competition. We studied hummingbird bill and plant corolla matching during seasonal variation in flower availability and morphology. Using a hierarchical Bayesian model, we accounted for the detectability and spatial overlap of hummingbird‐plant interactions. We found that despite seasonal pulses of flowers with short‐corollas, hummingbirds consistently foraged on well‐matched flowers, leading to low niche overlap. This behaviour suggests that the costs of searching for rare and more specialised resources are lower than the benefit of switching to super‐abundant resources. Our results highlight the trade‐off between foraging efficiency and interspecific competition, and underline niche partitioning in maintaining tropical diversity.     

Foraging niche dynamics and overlap in a guild of passerine birds in a south Swedish coniferous woodland

Summary Three foraging niche dimensions were measured at four seasons in six passerine bird species in a pine-dominated woodland. Total niche size increased in the order Certhia familiaris. In the first two species niche sizewas relatively constant at all seasons in spite of fluctuations in separatedimensions suggesting intraspecific complementarity between dimensionbreadths. Diffuse niche overlap was much lower in summer than at otherseasons in all species. Generally, this was due to movements of exploitationcurves along resource axes away from zones of interspecific overlap andto enlargement of total guild niche size, rather than to a reduction in totalniche size of the species. In some species a positive correlation was indicatedbetween breadth of niche dimension and diffuse overlap in the same dimension.Total niche size was correlated with total diffuse overlap up to acertain overlap value. Interspecific niche size complementarity was stronglysuggested by total guild niche being much less variable between seasons thanthe separate niche size of each species. The narrow niche of P. major, usuallyregarded a generalist, may be due to it being primarily adapted to broadleavedrather than coniferous woodland.     

Pulsed resource availability changes dietary niche breadth and partitioning between generalist rodent consumers

Identifying the mechanisms that structure niche breadth and overlap between species is important for determining how species interact and assessing their functional role in an ecosystem. Without manipulative experiments, assessing the role of foraging ecology and interspecific competition in structuring diet is challenging. Systems with regular pulses of resources act as a natural experiment to investigate the factors that influence the dietary niches of consumers. We used natural pulses of mast‐fruiting of American beech (Fagus grandifolia) to test whether optimal foraging or competition structure the dietary niche breadth and overlap between two congener rodent species (Peromyscus leucopus and P. maniculatus), both of which are generalist consumers. We reconstructed diets seasonally over a 2‐year period using stable isotope analysis (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N) of hair and of potential dietary items and measured niche dynamics using standard ellipse area calculated within a Bayesian framework. Changes in niche breadth were generally consistent with predictions of optimal foraging theory, with both species consuming more beechnuts (a high‐quality food resource) and having a narrower niche breadth during masting seasons compared to nonmasting seasons when dietary niches expanded and more fungi (a low‐quality food source) were consumed. In contrast, changes in dietary niche overlap were consistent with competition theory, with higher diet overlap during masting seasons than during nonmasting seasons. Overall, dietary niche dynamics were closely tied to beech masting, underscoring that food availability influences competition. Diet plasticity and niche partitioning between the two Peromyscus species may reflect differences in foraging strategies, thereby reducing competition when food availability is low. Such dietary shifts may have important implications for changes in ecosystem function, including the dispersal of fungal spores.     

基于两个不同资源轴上苔藓植物生态位分析

分别以群丛类型和生长基质类型(包括树生、石生、土生)作为资源轴,对小秦岭56个样方中苔藓植物的生态位特征进行分析和对比。结果表明:(1)两种资源轴上苔藓物种的生态位特征存在一定差异,不同资源轴上,苔藓物种生态位宽度排序发生一定改变。两种资源轴上,青藓属(Brachythecium)均具有较大的生态位宽度,而酸土藓属(Oxystegus)和叶苔属(Jungermania)在不同资源轴上生态位宽度差异较大。(2)对比两种资源轴上的生态位重叠值,生长基质类型明显高于群丛类型;在不同资源轴上,个别物种生态位重叠值排序还会发生明显改变。树平藓属(Homaliodendron)与金灰藓属(Pylaisiella)在两种资源轴上表现出完全相反结果。(3)与维管植物相似,生态位宽度较大的苔藓物种生态位重叠值高,生态位宽度小的苔藓物种也会有较大生态位重叠。     

Seasonal variation in prey preference,diet partitioning and niche breadth in a rich large carnivore guild

Large carnivore community structure is affected by direct and indirect interactions between intra-guild members. Co-existence between different species within a carnivore guild may occur through diet, habitat or temporal partitioning. Since carnivore species are highly dependent on availability and accessibility of prey, diet partitioning is potentially one of the most important mechanisms in allowing carnivores to co-exist. Intra-guild interactions may vary over time as carnivore prey preference and diet overlap can change due to seasonal changes in resource availability. We conducted scat analysis to compare the seasonal changes in prey preference, diet partitioning and niche breadth of four large carnivore species, namely leopard Panthera pardus, spotted hyena Crocuta crocuta, brown hyena Parahyaena brunnea and wild dog Lycaon pictus in central Tuli, Botswana. Large carnivores in central Tuli display a high dietary overlap, with spotted hyena and brown hyena displaying almost complete dietary overlap and the other carnivore species displaying slightly lower but still significant dietary overlap. Dietary niche breadth for both hyena species was high possibly due to their flexible foraging strategies, including scavenging, while leopard and wild dog showed a relatively low niche breadth, suggesting a more specialised diet. High dietary overlap in central Tuli is possibly explained by the high abundance of prey species in the area thereby reducing competition pressure between carnivore species. Our research highlights the need to assess the influence of diet partitioning in structuring large carnivore communities across multiple study sites, by demonstrating that in prey rich environments, the need for diet partitioning by carnivores to avoid competition may be limited.     

Seasonal Resource Selection of Canada Lynx in Managed Forests of the Northern Rocky Mountains

ABSTRACT We investigated seasonal patterns in resource selection of Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) in the northern Rockies (western MT, USA) from 1998 to 2002 based on backtracking in winter (577 km; 10 M, 7 F) and radiotelemetry (630 locations; 16 M, 11 F) in summer. During winter, lynx preferentially foraged in mature, multilayer forests with Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii) and subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) in the overstory and midstory. Forests used during winter were composed of larger diameter trees with higher horizontal cover, more abundant snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus), and deeper snow compared to random availability; multilayer, spruce-fir forests provided high horizontal cover with tree branching that touched the snow surface. During winter, lynx killed prey at sites with higher horizontal cover than that along foraging paths. Lynx were insensitive to snow depth or penetrability in determining where they killed prey. During summer, lynx broadened their resource use to select younger forests with high horizontal cover, abundant total shrubs, abundant small-diameter trees, and dense saplings, especially spruce-fir saplings. Based on multivariate logistic-regression models, resource selection occurred primarily at a fine spatial scale as was consistent with a sight-hunting predator in dense forests. However, univariate comparisons of patch-level metrics indicated that lynx selected homogenous spruce-fir patches, and avoided recent clear-cuts or other open patches. Given that lynx in Montana exhibit seasonal differences in resource selection, we encourage managers to maintain habitat mosaics. Because winter habitat may be most limiting for lynx, these mosaics should include abundant multistory, mature spruce-fir forests with high horizontal cover that are spatially well-distributed.     

Resource Partitioning by Mangrove Bird Communities in North Australia

Mangrove bird communities in north Australia comprise relatively few passerine species compared with other arboreal habitats in the region. Mangroves are dominated by a few tree species and there are potentially few resource axes available for partitioning by terrestrial birds. Competition for limited resources is predicted to cause strong niche differentiation and a highly structured, but low diversity, bird assemblage. Using multivariate and bipartite network analyses based on 1771 foraging observations (33% of 5320 behavioral observations), we examined resource partitioning by 20 terrestrial bird species in mangroves of north Australia. The mangrove bird community largely comprised generalist insectivores that partitioned insects by size with moderate‐to‐high interspecific overlap in diet. Gleaning for insects was the most common foraging mode. Few species specialized on nectar. Flowers of one or more mangrove species were available in every month of the year and insect abundance was correlated with flowering peaks. Niche differentiation by birds was determined by food type and foraging mode more than by broad spatial (mangrove zones) or temporal (seasonal) segregation of the use of resources. There was little evidence of bird species saturation or species sorting, suggesting loose species packing and a lesser role than expected for species interactions and interference competition in structuring the bird assemblage in mangroves.     

Seasonality and interspecific competition shape individual niche variation in co‐occurring tetra fish in Neotropical streams

The drivers of intraspecific niche variation and its effects on species interactions are still unclear, especially in species‐rich Neotropical environments. Here, we investigated how ecological opportunity and interspecific competition affect the degree of individual trophic specialization and the population niche breadth in tetra fish. We studied the four ecologically similar species (Psalidodon aff. gymnodontus, P. aff. paranae, P. bifasciatus, and Bryconamericus ikaa) in subtropical headwater streams (three sites with two co‐occurring species and three sites with only one species). We sampled fish in two contrasting seasons (winter/dry and summer/wet) and quantified their trophic niches using gut content analysis. Psalidodon bifasciatus was the only species distributed over all the sampled streams. We observed seasonal differences in population trophic niche breadth of P. bifasciatus just when this species co‐occurred with P. aff. gymnodontus. These findings confirm the complex nature of the effects of interspecific competition, depending, for instance, on the identity of the competitor. The degree of individual specialization of P. bifasciatus was higher in the winter, and it was not influenced by the presence of another species. Conversely, the other two Psalidodon species studied presented greater individual specialization in the summer, when fish consumed a higher proportion of allochthonous items (terrestrial insects and seeds), and there were no effects only for B. ikaa. Herein, our results suggest that seasonality in food‐resource availability is a major driver of niche variation and it has the potential to play an important role in how these similar tetra species interact and coexist. Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material.     

扎龙湿地藻类优势种生态位及其种间联结性动态分析

为了解扎龙湿地藻类群落结构的季节特征和演替规律，对扎龙湿地藻类群落进行了分析，主要涉及藻类优势度、生态位、MFG功能群划分、生态位重叠值及联结系数分析。结果表明：(1)在检出的8门311种藻类中，夏季种类丰富度最高，全年优势种为狭形纤维藻和啮蚀隐藻。(2)优势种种类和密度季节性差异较大，春季以金藻-绿藻种类为主，夏季以绿藻-隐藻种类为主，秋季以隐藻-绿藻种类为主。(3)生态位宽度值与MFG功能群划分结合分析表明，优势种可分为3个大类别，不同种类对资源利用情况的差异较大，各季节广生态位种能较好的反映扎龙湿地水体环境的季节变化趋势。(4)生态位重叠值在不同季节上有较大差异，O_ik>0.6的占比分别为42.86%(春)、28.57%(夏)和25.00%(秋),表明春季优势种种间资源的竞争最为突出，种间竞争强于夏、秋两季。(5)种间联结性检验结果显示，扎龙湿地藻类优势种间总体联结上呈正关联关系，但是种间联结较为松散，种与种之间相对独立。研究表明，扎龙湿地藻类群落结构生态位测度均存在明显的季节波动，较好反映出水环境季节变化特征，可用来指示湿地水体环境的变化。     

Prey choice by marten during a decline in prey abundance

Summary We examined variation in diet choice by marten (Martes americana) among seasons and between sexes and ages from 1980–1985. During this period prey populations crashed simultaneously, except for ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) which was common at the beginning and end of the study, and masked shrews (Sorex cinereus) which were abundant in 1983. Marten were catholic in selection of prey and made use of most available mammalian prey, ruffed grouse, passerine birds, berries, and insects. Diet niche was widest during the latter three years when prey was scare, particularly in late winter. Diet niche breadth was negatively correlated with abundance of all common prey species. Proportion of small prey species in the diet was correlated with absolute abundance of those species, but proportion of some large prey was related to their relative abundance. Diet choice varied among years and among seasons. Berries and insects were common in summer diets while large prey, particularly varying hare (Lepus americanus), were more frequent in winter diet than in summer diet. We found little evidence that any small mammal species was a preferred prey. Sexual size dimorphism between the sexes did not affect prey choice, nor did age. Reduced foraging effort in winter resulted in a wider diet niche only when prey was scarce. The only prediction of optimal foraging models fully supported by our data was a wider diet niche with reduced prey abundance. However, among the three most profitable prey species choice was dependent on the absolute abundance of the most profitable type (varying hare). We suggest that marten primarily forage for large prey but employ a strategy which results in encounters with small prey as well. These small prey are eaten as they provide energy at minimal cost, between captures of large prey.     

浙江披山海域主要鱼类时空生态位

依据2015年11月(秋)、2016年2月(冬)、5月(春)、8月(夏)4个航次的渔业资源底拖网调查数据,运用相对重要性指数(IRI)、Shannon指数和Pianka指数对浙江披山海域主要鱼类的时空生态位宽度和重叠进行分析,并结合冗余分析和种间竞争系数研究了主要鱼类间的竞争共存关系及生态位分化。结果表明: 研究期间共采集鉴定鱼类61种,隶属13目29科48属,其中主要鱼类(IRI>100)有19种。绿鳍鱼与丽叶鲹的时间生态位重叠值最高,二者对时间资源利用的同步性最强;孔虾虎鱼与断线舌鳎的空间生态位重叠值和时空生态位重叠值均最高,二者在空间资源序列上的同域性最强,同时,物种对时空二维资源的利用趋于一致。披山海域时空二维生态位显著重叠(Q_ik>0.6)的种对仅占总种对数的5.8%,表明物种时空分布的差异较大,时空生态位重叠受季节变化的影响比较明显,种间竞争系数计测结果与生态位重叠基本一致。冗余分析揭示了主要鱼类与温度、盐度、溶解氧等环境因子之间的关系,进一步解释了物种间的生态位分化。     

Competition for foraging resources and coexistence of two syntopic species of Messor harvester ants in Mediterranean grassland

1. Diet composition of two syntopic species of Messor seed‐harvester ants (M. wasmanni Krausse and M. minor André) was evaluated during different periods over the year (May, July, October), by analysing food type (plant parts and species) and food size (weight, length, width). Morphological traits of foragers (head width and femur length) considered important features promoting diet partitioning were measured. 2. We used two robust randomisation algorithms (RA2 and RA3), adopted in niche overlap studies, to check for random vs non random utilisation of resources at intra‐ and interspecific level for the different periods. 3. Analyses showed high levels of overlap in the diet of the two species and no evidence of interspecific competition during most of the activity season. In particular, there was an aggregated use of resources in summer, whilst niche partitioning and evidence of competition when resources decreased in autumn. Intraspecifically, no evidence of competition was found. 4. Results suggest two different mechanisms for minimising competition: when food resources are abundant (summer), ants collected the same plant species but selected different sizes; when food resource is scarce (autumn), ants foraged on different plants. 5. The importance of different factors (morphological, behavioural, ecological) possibly affecting competition and coexistence are discussed.     

Resource partitioning between large herbivores in Hustai National Park, Mongolia

Re-introduced Przewalski horses in Hustai National Park, Mongolia could suffer from food competition with other herbivore species through food resource depletion. Diet composition of the Przewalski horse (Equus ferus przewalskii), red deer (Cervus elaphus) and four livestock species (sheep, goat, cattle and horse) were studied, using micro histological analysis of faecal samples in the summer of 2005 and winter of 2006 – 2007. We expected that herbivores become less selective in food choice in winter regarding to summer, resulting in a larger diet breadth, a larger similarity in diet and a larger dietary overlap in winter, potentially triggering exploitative competition by depletion of shared resources. Vegetation biomass decreased during winter, and the different herbivores species in HNP changed their diet from summer to winter. As expected diet breadth, diet similarity and dietary overlap were significantly larger in winter in comparison to summer. The existence of competition by resource depletion between the different species cannot be ruled out. Vegetation biomass was probably not a limiting factor according to the correlation between annual rainfall and herbivore species biomass, however the forage quality may be limiting, triggering competition.     

次生阔叶林中大山雀和沼泽山雀取食行为的研究

生态学家对形态相似而又分布相同地理区域的种类的研究十分感兴趣。而这种“和平共处”的情况是动物界中普遍存在的。因为这种现象提供了研究种间竞争及其形成机制的机会。研究证明,物种在与其相近种类竞争中,以数量化行为和生态适应而呈现出选择优势。大山雀(Ｐａｒｕｓｍａｊｏｒ)和沼泽山雀(Ｐ.Ｐａｌｕｓｔｒｉｓ)形态和生态习性相似(留鸟、树洞巢、食虫鸟等),是生活在同一区域的潜在竞争者。本文目的是通过两种鸟取食行为的不同及其季节变化,阐述两种山雀之所以共存的原理。关于山雀类的研究,国内外已有很多报道,因其分布广,数量多,又…     

滇西北高原藏区小型兽类体表寄生蚤的生态位特征

为探讨云南西北高原藏区小型兽类体表寄生蚤的生态位特征,根据海拔和地形等自然环境特点,在德钦县选取42个调查样点,划分为5个垂直带,4种生境,采用铗夜法和笼日法捕获小兽,梳捡其体表寄生蚤,运用生态位宽度指数（B_i）和生态位重叠指数（NO）对其生态位特征进行分析。结果：共梳捡寄生蚤1275头,隶属4科9亚科17属33种,其中迪庆额蚤和云南栉眼蚤为优势种,常见种12种,稀有种19种。在海拔资源轴上,B_i值前三分别是特新蚤德钦亚种0.698、棕形额蚤0.690、斯氏新蚤川滇亚种0.667;生境资源轴上,B_i值前三分别是：无值大锥蚤0.630、特新蚤指名亚种0.57、特新蚤德钦亚种0.537;寄主资源轴上,B_i值前三为绒鼠怪蚤0.584、迪庆额蚤0.567、棕形额蚤0.553;多维生态位宽度来看,特新蚤德钦亚种和迪庆额蚤B_i值较大,分别为1.031、1.019。海拔、生境、寄主生态位重叠指数中,有意义的重叠种对分别占比35.6%、39.39%、9.28%;完全不重叠的种对分别占比26.89%、18.56%、51.14%;完全重叠的种对分别占比2.27%、13.26%和0.19%。三种生态因子中,优势种和常见种的生态位宽度值较大,对资源的利用能力和竞争能力较强。不同生态因子的生态位重叠指数格局不同,与资源轴本身有关。有意义的重叠和完全不重叠的种对占比较多,前者多为优势种、常见种、稀有种两两之间重叠,重叠指数越高,竞争关系越激烈;完全不重叠的种对多为稀有种之间,无资源利用竞争关系。总体来说,德钦县小兽体表寄生蚤种类丰富,生态位分化较为均匀,本研究可为该地蚤传疾病的监测防控提供生态学依据。     

Water source niche overlap increases with site moisture availability in woody perennials

Classical niche partitioning theory posits increased competition for and partitioning of the most limiting resource among coexisting species. Coexisting plant species may vary in rooting depth, reflecting niche partitioning in water source use. Our goal was to assess the soil water partitioning of woody plant communities across northern Arizona along an elevational moisture gradient using stem and soil water isotopes from two sampling periods to estimate the use of different water sources. We hypothesized that niche overlap of water sources would be higher and monsoon precipitation uptake would be lower at sites with higher moisture availability. Pairwise niche overlap of coexisting species was calculated using mixing model estimates of proportional water use for three sources. Across the moisture gradient, niche overlap increased with site moisture index (precipitation/potential evapotranspiration) across seasons, and site moisture index explained 37% of the variation in niche overlap of intermediate and deeper sources of water. Desert trees utilized more winter source water than desert shrubs, suggesting the partitioning of water sources between functional groups. However, seasonal differences in surface water use were primarily found at intermediate levels of site moisture availability. Our findings support classical niche partitioning theory in that plants exhibit higher overlap of water sources when water is not a limiting resource.     

Wolves,white‐tailed deer,and beaver: implications of seasonal prey switching for woodland caribou declines

Population increases of primary prey can negatively impact alternate prey populations via demographic and behavioural responses of a shared predator through apparent competition. Seasonal variation in prey selection patterns by predators also can affect secondary and incidental prey by reducing spatial separation. Global warming and landscape changes in Alberta's bitumen sands have resulted in prey enrichment, which is changing the large mammal predator–prey system and causing declines in woodland caribou Rangifer tarandus caribou populations. We assessed seasonal patterns of prey use and spatial selection by wolves Canis lupus in two woodland caribou ranges in northeastern Alberta, Canada, that have undergone prey enrichment following recent white‐tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus invasion. We determined whether risk of predation for caribou (incidental prey) and the proportion of wolf‐caused‐caribou mortalities varied with season. We found that wolves showed seasonal variation in primary prey use, with deer and beaver Castor canadensis being the most common prey items in wolf diet in winter and summer, respectively. These seasonal dietary patterns were reflected in seasonal wolf spatial resource selection and resulted in contrasting spatial relationships between wolves and caribou. During winter, wolf selection for areas used by deer maintained strong spatial separation between wolves and caribou, whereas wolf selection for areas used by beaver in summer increased the overlap with caribou. Changing patterns in wolf resource selection were reflected by caribou mortality patterns, with 76.2% of 42 adult female caribou mortalities occurring in summer. Understanding seasonal patterns of predation following prey enrichment in a multiprey system is essential when assessing the effect of predation on an incidental prey species. Our results support the conclusion that wolves are proximately responsible for woodland caribou population declines throughout much of their range.     

Competition drives trait evolution and character displacement between Mimulus species along an environmental gradient

Closely related species may evolve to coexist stably in sympatry through niche differentiation driven by in situ competition, a process termed character displacement. Alternatively, past evolution in allopatry may have already sufficiently reduced niche overlap to permit establishment in sympatry, a process called ecological sorting. The relative importance of each process to niche differentiation is contentious even though they are not mutually exclusive and are both mediated via multivariate trait evolution. We explore how competition has impacted niche differentiation in two monkeyflowers, Mimulus alsinoides and M. guttatus, which often co‐occur. Through field observations, common gardens, and competition experiments, we demonstrate that M. alsinoides is restricted to marginal habitats in sympatry and that the impacts of character displacement on niche differentiation are complex. Competition with M. guttatus alters selection gradients and has favored taller M. alsinoides with earlier seasonal flowering at low elevation and floral shape divergence at high elevation. However, no trait exhibits the pattern typically associated with character displacement, higher divergence between species in sympatry than allopatry. Thus, although character displacement was unlikely the process driving initial divergence along niche axes necessary for coexistence, we conclude that competition in sympatry has likely driven trait evolution along additional niche axes.