Inter-and intraspecific effects of density manipulations upon females of two orb-weaving spiders (araneae: araneidae)

Summary A field experiment was conducted to establish whether or not inter-and intraspecific competition occurs between two syntopic species of orb-weaving spiders. Replicated single-species and mixed-species adult populations of the basilica spider, Mecynogea lemniscata, and the labyrinth spider, Metepeira labyrinthea, were established at a range of densities on open experimental units in the species' natural habitat. Each experimental unit was a 4mx1.6mx1m wood frame supporting branches upon which introduced spiders built webs. Survival and reproduction on the units were monitored from 1 August through 1 November 1978,There were no significant negative interspecific effects of density upon either survival or reproduction, which indicates that interspecific competition was not occurring during the experiment. There was statistically significant evidence of intraspecific competition between females for both species, but the negative density effects were small. They explained 5% of the variance in Mecynogea web height, 2% of the variance in Metepeira survival, and 1% of the variation in number of eggs per sac for Mecynogea.Hence inter-and intraspecific competition was either absent or weak in 1978, despite the fact that a field experiment conducted the previous year (Wise 1979) demonstrated that prey abundance was limiting the egg production of both species. Evidence of food limitation in 1977 followed by only weak competitive interactions the following year suggests that the significance of resource limitation and competition may vary temporally for the basilica and labyrinth spiders.     

Intra- and interspecific density dependence mediates weather effects on the population dynamics of a plant–insect herbivore system

Temperature and precipitation are two major factors determining arthropod population densities, but the effects from these climate variables are seldom evaluated in the same study system and in combination with inter- and intraspecific density dependence. In this study, I used a 19 year time series on plant variables (shoot height and flowering incidence) and insect density in order to understand direct and indirect effects of climatic fluctuations on insect population densities. The study system includes two closely related leaf beetle species (Galerucella spp.) and a flower feeding weevil Nanophyes marmoratus attacking the plant purple loosestrife Lythrum salicaria. Results suggest that both intraspecific density dependence and weather variables affected Galerucella population densities, with interactive effects of rain and temperature on insect densities that depended on the timing relative to insect life cycles. In spring, high temperatures increased Galerucella densities only when combined with high rain, as low rain implies a high drought risk. Low temperatures are only beneficial if combined with little rain, as high rain cause chilly and wet conditions that are bad for insects. In summer, interactive effects of rain and temperature are different because high temperatures and little rain cause drought that induce wilting in plants, thus reducing food availability for the leaf feeding larvae. In contrast, the density of the flower feeding weevil was less affected by temperature and precipitation directly, and more indirectly interspecific density dependent effects through reduced resource availability caused by previous Galerucella damage.     

Competitive Interactions between Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) and Vallisneria (Vallisneria americana) as Influenced by Insect Herbivory

Two experiments (winter and summer) were conducted in outdoor tanks using addition-series methods to evaluate the impact of specialized feeding by two biological control agents,Hydrellia pakistanaeDeonier andBagous hydrillaeO'Brien, on competitive interactions between hydrilla [Hydrilla verticillata(L.f.) Royle] and vallisneria (Vallisneria americanaMichx). Competitive abilities of each plant species were determined using the reciprocal-yield model of mean plant weight. In the absence of the biocontrol agents, intraspecific competition from hydrilla on itself was 8.3 times stronger than interspecific competition from vallisneria.Hydrellia pakistanaeinterfered with hydrilla canopy formation by removing as much as 80% of the plant biomass in the top 30 cm of the water column. Damage byH. pakistanaealso caused a 43% reduction in hydrilla tuber production during the winter experiment. Similarly,B. hydrillaecaused up to a 48% reduction in hydrilla plant weight in the summer experiment. Neither insect species damaged vallisneria. As a result, there were significant shifts in the competitive balance between hydrilla and vallisneria due to selective insect feedings. In the presence ofH. pakistanae, hydrilla intraspecific competition was nearly equal to interspecific competition from vallisneria, indicating that hydrilla had lost its competitive edge over vallisneria.Bagous hydrillaealso produced similar, but smaller, shifts in the relative competitive abilities of hydrilla and vallisneria. These results indicate that biological control agents can disrupt the competitive balance between plant species in favor of native species, thus adding another element to the weed biological control strategies.     

Competitive interactions between two pest species of earth mites, Halotydeus destructor and Penthaleus major (Acarina: Penthaleidae)

Competition was investigated between two pest earth mite species, Penthaleus major Dugés and Halotydeus destructor Tucker, which occur sympatrically and are major pests of southern Australian pastures and crops. Three geographically separate pasture sites within Victoria were sampled monthly. Abundance patterns were similar across sites in that there was a marked increase in number of H. destructor in spring. Field competition plots were set up on pasture. In the first season, H. destructor had a negative effect on P. major but not vice versa. During the summer, diapause and ensuing generation, density-dependent (intraspecific) competition was evident in P. major but not in H. destructor. The interspecific asymmetry was switched in the following season, with P. major dominating most plots and having a negative effect on the reproductive output of H. destructor. These findings indicate that suppression or eradication of one species of earth mite from pastures may result in another species increasing in relative abundance.     

Competition for a limited space in kleptoparasitic Argyrodes spiders revealed by field experiments

Most kleptoparasitic Argyrodes spiders rely exclusively on host spider webs for obtaining their food. Because their densities occasionally reach high levels within a restricted area, competitive interactions may be important for determining the density of these unique spiders. Here I used two Argyrodes species commonly found on webs of the large orb-web spider Nephila clavata to clarify whether inter- and intraspecific competition influences abundance and within-web distribution by using observational data and field experiment. Removing Argyrodes flavescens from the host webs induced a remarkably high immigration of that species while density on control webs remained almost at the same level, which is evidence for strong intraspecific competition. Larger individuals of A. flavescens were located more frequently at the capture area of the host webs where it is easy to access prey ignored by the host spider, and spiders immigrating into webs from which that species had been removed were smaller in body size, suggesting interference competition for space among conspecific kleptoparasites. Argyrodes bonadea increased in number on webs from which A. flavescens had been removed, and the increase was correlated with the number of A. flavescens removed. This finding is evidence for interspecific competition that is rarely reported in spiders. A multiple regression model including numbers of a conspecific parasite as well as web and body sizes of the host spider could not detect competitive interactions between species, suggesting the importance of experimental approaches. Received: May 22, 2000 / Accepted: December 1, 2000     

Competition for food between an introduced crayfish and two fishes endemic to the Colorado River basin

Synopsis Crayfish are not native to the Colorado River basin (CRB), however they are now established in portions of the mainstem and in many tributaries. I used density manipulation experiments in a laboratory setting to determine intra- and interspecific competition for food between Orconectes virilis, an aggressive polytrophic crayfish now common in the CRB, and two native fishes: Gila chub, Gila intermedia, and flannelmouth sucker, Catostomus latipinnis. I tested each fish species in separate trials. Growth of Gila chub decreased when animal densities increased, however they were more affected by intraspecific competition than by crayfish presence. In contrast, growth of flannelmouth suckers was more affected by crayfish than by intraspecific competition. Crayfish growth was not significantly altered by presence of either fish. Crayfish thus reduced fish growth by competition for food, but the effect differed markedly between the two species. An erratum to this article can be found at .     

Vertical and seasonal patterns in competition for microalgae between intertidal gastropods

Grazing by the snail Nerita atramentosa and the limpet Cellana tramoserica caused similarly great reductions in abundance of microalgae — measured by direct counts and by estimation of chlorophyll analyses. A smaller snail, Bembicium nanum, caused smaller reductions of microalgal resources, compared with ungrazed areas. These results were consistent with the competitive abilities of these three species. Chlorophyll concentrations in samples of grazed rocks were reliable estimates of the nature and abundance of food available to the grazers.Inter- and intra-specific competition amongst Nerita and Cellana were investigated at various densities in experimental cages. To examine the effects of different availability of food resources, the experiments were repeated at three heights on the shore (abundance of food decreases with height) and during autumn/winter and spring/summer periods of the year (less food is available during summer).Density-dependent mortality of Cellana was caused by the presence of other limpets, or of Nerita. Mortality was greatest at higher levels and during the spring/summer and was significantly, negatively correlated with mean chlorophyll concentration in the experimental cages. The only exception was that all limpets suddenly died in cages at the highest level during the summer period, which cannot be explained solely by competitive interactions. Nerita showed no density-dependent mortality during the short periods of these experiments. Tissue-weights of Nerita declined with increased density, but the effect of Cellana was not as great as the intraspecific effect of Nerita. Snails retained weight better at lower than at higher levels, and during the autumn/winter which is consistent with the availability of food. Tissue weights of both Nerita and Cellana were positively correlated with chlorophyll concentrations inside the cages in both seasons investigated.These experimental results demonstrate that intensity of competition will vary from place to place and time to time according to the densities and mixtures of the grazers, and according to the availability of microalgal food.     

Is larger better in sit-and-wait predators? Competitive superiority in Hydra

Contrary to a generalisation arising from many studies, a larger body size is not always the key to competitive superiority amongst animals. An analysis of competition between pairs of Hydra oligactis, Hydra vulgaris and Hydra circumcincta, that simultaneously encountered a single prey item, showed that competitive success in these sessile predators depended on species and clone in inter- and intraspecific competition, respectively. H. oligactis appeared to be competitively superior, even to the larger H. vulgaris individuals. Phenotypic traits important for prey capture, such as the fraction of the nematocyst that penetrates the prey (penetrants), were positively related to success in intraspecific competition. Body size appeared to be a positive key factor in determining foraging success in the competition between pairs of conspecifics from single or different clones. In contrast to the results of the intraspecific competition, body size was not significantly related to the foraging success of competing heterospecifics.     

Effect of arbuscular mycorrhiza on inter- and intraspecific competition of two grassland species

We were interested in the role of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) in the competition between plants of different sizes. A pot experiment of factorial design was established, in which AM root colonization and competition were used as treatments. Five-week-old Prunella vulgaris seedlings were chosen as target plants (i.e. plants whose response to competition was studied) and the following (13 replicates of each) were used as neighbours: (1) a large, 10-week-old P. vulgaris, (2) two P. vulgaris seedlings, and (3) a large, 10-week-old Fragaria vesca. In the experiment where small neighbours were grown together with small target plants, competition did not reduce target plant weight significantly, compared to the other two treatments. The competitive effects of large neighbours were significant, regardless of species (both older neighbours reduced the weights of target plants similarly), but there was a clear difference between intra- and interspecific competition when plants were mycorrhizal. In intraspecific competition with a large neighbour, the target plant shoot weight was reduced 24% when inoculated with AM. Thus, AM amplified rather than balanced intraspecific competition. In interspecific competition with old F. vesca, the shoot weights of target plants were 22% greater when inoculated with AM than when non-mycorrhizal. The results showed that, for given soil condition, AM might increase species diversity by increasing competitive intraspecific suppression and decreasing the interspecific suppression of small plants by larger neighbours.     

Variation in the relative magnitude of intraspecific and interspecific competitive effects in novel versus familiar environments in two<Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosophila</Emphasis> species

Models of competitor coevolution, especially the genetic feedback hypothesis, suggest that a negative correlation between intraspecific and interspecific competitive effects may be important in sustaining competitor coexistence, and can give rise to oscillatory dynamics with repeated reversals of competitive superiority. I reanalyzed previously published census data from an experiment in which populationsof Drosophila melanogaster andD. simulans underwent competitive coevolution in one familiar and two novel environments, to specifically look for any evidence of a negative relationship between intraspecific and interspecific competitive effects on population growth rates, and for any indication of short period cycling in the relative magnitude of intraspecific and interspecific competitive effects. While there was considerable variation in the relative magnitude of intraspecific and interspecific competitive effects over generations, among both populations and environments, there was no clear evidence supporting the genetic feedback hypothesis. Intraspecific and interspecific competitive effects on population growth rates were strongly positively correlated in novel environments, and uncorrelated in the familiar environment. Data from the familiar environment indicated that indices of competition of populations of the initially superior competitor,D. melanogaster, might be showing some cyclic behaviour, but I argue that this is likely to be transient, and not suggestive of sustained oscillatory dynamics predicted by the genetic feedback model. I discuss the results in the context of the importance of the genetic architecture of intraspecific and interspecific competitive abilities in determining the coevolutionary trajectory of competitive interactions.     

Coexistence in the intertidal: interactions between the non‐indigenous New Zealand mud snail Potamopyrgus antipodarum and the native estuarine isopod Gnorimosphaeroma insulare

Nonindigenous species (NIS) that achieve high densities in their recipient communities are expected to have negative effects on native competitors. However, recent reviews have shown that competitors, unlike predators and parasites, have rarely been documented to cause extinctions. There is a need for better understanding of competitive interactions between nonindigenous species and native competitors across systems where NIS reach high densities. In this paper we examine competitive interactions between the exotic, invasive New Zealand mud snail Potamopyrgus antipodarum and native estuarine invertebrates. P. antipodarum is often described as a freshwater snail but can occur in brackish water as well; it has been established in the Columbia River Estuary for over ten years. We addressed competition in this estuarine system using three approaches: field surveys of the benthic invertebrate community, stable isotope analysis of overlap in resource use by common invertebrates, and a laboratory competition experiment that tested the strength of competition between P. antipodarum and the isopod, Gnorimosphaeroma insulare, which overlap in resource use. We found no evidence of negative competitive impacts of P. antipodarum on native benthic invertebrates in this estuarine system. Densities of P. antipodarum and common native epibenthic invertebrates are positively correlated in the intertidal, likely due to shared habitat preferences. The competition experiment showed that the effect of interspecific competition from P. antipodarum on the foraging and survival of G. insulare was significantly less than the effect of intraspecific competition between isopods. The presence of the isopod G. insulare reduced foraging in P. antipodarum, but this change did not result in reduced survival and growth of snails. Hence, interspecific competition is weak despite high densities achieved by the invading species. Finally, we discuss several possible explanations for the observation that P. antipodarum does not have an obvious negative competitive impact on native benthic invertebrates.     

Spring-Summer Succession of Planktonic Rotifers in a South Andes Lake

The dynamics of planktonic rotifer in Laguna Ezquerra (Rio Negro, Argentina) was studied from October 1988 to March 1989, in relation to food resources and cladoceran populations. During the spring and summer period, total rotifer density differed markedly. In spring rotifer populations remained at low density and an inverse relationship with cladoceran biomass was found. In contrast, in summer, the rotifer densities increased greatly and a positive relationship with cladoceran biomass was observed. Food resources decreased during mid January and this seemed to give rotifers a competitive advantage over cladocerans. Bosmina longirostris and Ceriodaphnia dubia were both present during the spring, but only Bosmina prevailed in summer. The composition of cladoceran assemblages together with food resources seem to be an important factor in rotifer dynamics.     

Regulation of rotifer densities by crustacean zooplankton in an oligotrophic montane lake in British Columbia

Summary To examine the relative demographic effects of predation and competition for food in rotifers during spring and summer in an oligotrophic lake, predator and competitor densities and food supplies were experimentally altered inside large enclosures. Abundances of rotifer species were positively correlated with experimental densities of fourth instar Chaoborus trivittatus larvae, a major crustacean predator in 1976. Experimental alteration of the densities of Daphnia rosea and Diaptomus leptopus and D. kenai in 1978 produced highly significant increases in rotifer biomass only under Daphnia removal, but not under copepod removal. Inorganic fertilizer additions to enclosures in 1978 and 1979 revealed minimal rotifer increases unless pulsed additions were large or Daphnia were also excluded. Large demographic reponses of rotifers to low fertilizer loadings in the absence of Daphnia confirmed the pre-eminence of competitive food limitation in producing rotifer scarcity in summer.     

Analysis of inter- and intra-specific competition amongst intertidal limpets with different methods of feeding

Summary The prosobranch limpet Cellana tramoserica grazes on microalgae, including the spores of macroalgae, and coexists with the pulmonate limpets Siphonaria denticulata and S. virgulata at mid-tidal levels on sandstone shores in New South Wales. These siphonarians graze on macroalgae, leaving the basal parts of the thalli intact. Where Cellana graze, they are capable of removing all algae; where Siphonaria graze, they leave at least a thin film of alga on the rocks, which is available to Cellana. S. denticulata normally show invariant homing behaviour, whereas S. virgulata tend to move around at random when Cellana are present, but apparently home when Cellana are absent. Both siphonarians have been observed to show opportunistic behavioural responses by moving towards patches of macroalgal foods when they become available.Experimental ecclosures of limpets at different densities and in different combinations revealed that Cellana tramoserica suffered increased mortality and reduced growth due to intraspecific competition when at increased densities. There was no effect on Cellana of increased densities of either species of Siphonaria. Nor was there any interspecific interaction between the siphonarians. Both species of Siphonaria showed some reduction of growth at increased intraspecific density. More importantly, both showed increased mortality when enclosed with low densities of Cellana. Larger densities of Cellana had no effect; the numbers of Cellana could not be maintained because of the reductions caused by intraspecific competition. Even after 27 weeks in enclosures with Cellana, the numbers of Siphonaria never declined to zero in any experimental enclosure. Thus, Cellana has a competitive effect on the survival of siphonarian limpets, but is unable to exclude them from an area of the shore. Siphonaria spp., in contrast, have no effect on Cellana.The nature of the competitive interactions between these types of limpets is explaied in terms of their methods of feeding; Cellana can exploit the food-resource before it reaches a suitable size for Siphonaria. The coexistence of Siphonaria spp. with Cellana is discussed with respect to the behaviour of the pulmonates. Intraspecific competition leading to reduced densitities of Cellana, however, will ensure that Cellana cannot exploit all the food resources, and some will be available to Siphonaria. The consequences of inter- and intra-specific competition among grazing gastropods are discussed with reference to the structure of intertidal communities, and it appears that competition for food is fundamentally different from competitive interactions for space in the organization of such communities.     

Competitive interactions among two specialist predators and a generalist predator of hemlock woolly adelgid, Adelges tsugae (Hemiptera: Adelgidae) in south-western Virginia

1 Competitive interactions among two specialist predators, Laricobius nigrinus and Sasajiscymnus (Pseudoscymnus) tsugae, and a generalist predator, Harmonia axyridis Pallas, of hemlock woolly adelgid, Adelges tsugae were evaluated in hemlock stands in south‐western Virginia. The two specialist predators are part of a biological control program for A. tsugae, and the potential for competition among these species and previously established generalist predators in the field is unknown. 2 Adult predators were evaluated in branch cages during spring and summer at two field sites infested with A. tsugae. Using females only in 2003 and sexual pairs in 2004, predator survival and net reproduction were examined, as well as their feeding and impact on A. tsugae when present alone and in conspecific and heterospecific groupings. 3 Predator survival was not affected by the presence of additional predators. Total feeding was greater for all species when placed in predator groupings, suggesting that interactions do not significantly interfere with feeding activity. Net reproduction per predator was negatively affected by conspecifics, but unaffected by heterospecifics, indicating that direct or indirect intraspecific interference may occur. In spring, L. nigrinus showed the greatest impact on A. tsugae, and H. axyridis had the greatest impact during summer. 4 These results suggest that it would be beneficial to utilize multiple predator species combinations over single species when implementing biological control for A. tsugae. Low‐density releases are also recommended to reduce intraspecific interference.     

The relative importance of predation and competition in two reef fishes

Competition and predation may both strongly influence populations of reef fishes, but the importance of these processes relative to one another is poorly understood. I quantified the effects of predation and competition on the growth and survival of two temperate reef fishes, Lythrypnus dalli and Coryphopterus nicholsii, in field experiments in which I manipulated the densities of the two species and the abundance of predators (using exclosure cages) on small replicate patch reefs. I also evaluated the influence of predators on the behavior of the two species to help interpret the mechanisms of any predatory influences on growth or survival. Predation was much more important than competition (inter- or intraspecific) in Lythrypnus. For Coryphopterus, neither competition nor predation were particularly important. Behaviorally, both species responded to predators by reducing foraging rate and hiding. This altered behavior, however, had no repercussions for growth or survival of Coryphopterus. In contrast, Lythrypnus grew more slowly and suffered greater mortality when exposed to predators. Interspecific competition did not significantly influence either species. Intraspecific competition did not affect the growth of Coryphopterus, but survival tended to be lower at high densities. Growth of Lythrypnus was depressed by intraspecific competition, but survival was not, except that, in the presence of predators, survival was density dependent. In contrast to the historical emphasis placed on the role of competition, this study indicates that predation can be more important than competition in determining patterns of abundance of some reef fishes. For example, predators not only influenced foraging of both Lythrypnus and Coryphopterus, but they also reduced growth and survival of Lythrypnus, and therefore appear to help maintain the marked habitat segregation between the two species. Received: 16 June 1997 / Accepted: 3 December 1997     

Competition between perch (Perca fluviatilis) and ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernuus): the advantage of turning night into day

1. The outcome of interspecific competition for food resources depends both on the competitors’ sensory abilities and on environmental conditions. In laboratory experiments we tested the influence of daylight and darkness on feeding behaviour and specific growth rate (SGR) of two species with different sensory abilities. 2. We used perch (Perca fluviatilis) as a visually orientated, and ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernuus) as a mechano‐sensory oriented predator and tested their growth rates and behaviour under conditions of interspecific and intraspecific competition. Three different foraging conditions were used: food supplied (i) only during the day, (ii) only during the night or (iii) during both day and night. 3. In perch neither SGR nor feeding behaviour were influenced substantially by interspecific competition during daylight. During darkness their foraging behaviour changed markedly and their access to the food source as well as their SGR were negatively affected by the presence of ruffe. 4. Ruffe's foraging behaviour did not change during either day or night with interspecific competition. During the night ruffe's SGR was higher with interspecific competition, probably because of a release from intraspecific competition and the competitive inferiority of perch during the night. 5. Because of its seonsory abilities ruffe feeds predominantly at night, thereby reducing competitive interference from perch.     

Density-dependent habitat selection between maize cropfields and their borders in two rodent species (Akodon azarae and Calomys laucha) of Pampean agroecosystems

We studied habitat preferences and intra and interspecific density-dependent effects on habitat selection by Akodon azarae and Calomys laucha between maize fields and their adjacent borders, during different developmental stages of the crop. Akodon azarae detected quantitative differences between habitats, using preferentially borders throughout the year, while C. laucha perceived borders and cropfields as quantitatively similar during spring and summer and it detected borders as quantitatively better at the high density period (autumn and winter). These results support the prediction of differential habitat preferences as a model of community organisation at the low density period, while they are consistent with shared habitat preferences during autumn and winter when both species apparently coexist in the better habitat (border). Akodon azarae showed intraspecific density-dependent habitat selection throughout the year, except in spring, while habitat selection by C. laucha was density-dependent in spring, autumn and winter. The effect of interspecific density on habitat selection was detected in both habitats and changed seasonally. The effect of A. azarae over C. laucha by resources exploitation was detected in borders, while competitive effects of C. laucha over A. azarae was observed within cropfields. Both species were more affected by exploitation competition than interference, which was more common in borders than in maize fields. We conclude that seasonally have a profound effect in habitat selection of these species because it changes the intensity of intra and interspecific competition and affects different habitat preferences and basic suitability of habitats. This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Tolerance to apical and leaf damage of Raphanus raphanistrum in different competitive regimes

Tolerance to herbivory is an adaptation that promotes regrowth and maintains fitness in plants after herbivore damage. Here, we hypothesized that the effect of competition on tolerance can be different for different genotypes within a species and we tested how tolerance is affected by competitive regime and damage type. We inflicted apical or leaf damage in siblings of 29 families of an annual plant Raphanus raphanistrum (Brassicaceae) grown at high or low competition. There was a negative correlation of family tolerance levels between competition treatments: plant families with high tolerance to apical damage in the low competition treatment had low tolerance to apical damage in the high competition treatment and vice versa. We found no costs of tolerance, in terms of a trade‐off between tolerance to apical and leaf damage or between tolerance and competitive ability, or an allocation cost in terms of reduced fitness of highly tolerant families in the undamaged state. High tolerance bound to a specific competitive regime may entail a cost in terms of low tolerance if competitive regime changes. This could act as a factor maintaining genetic variation for tolerance.     

Using spatially‐explicit capture–recapture models to explain variation in seasonal density patterns of sympatric ursids

Understanding how environmental factors interact to determine the abundance and distribution of animals is a primary goal of ecology, and fundamental to the conservation of wildlife populations. Studies of these relationships, however, often assume static environmental conditions, and rarely consider effects of competition with ecologically similar species. In many parts of their shared ranges, grizzly bears Ursus arctos and American black bears U. americanus have nearly complete dietary overlap and share similar life history traits. We therefore tested the hypothesis that density patterns of both bear species would reflect seasonal variation in available resources, with areas of higher primary productivity supporting higher densities of both species. We also hypothesized that interspecific competition would influence seasonal density patterns. Specifically, we predicted that grizzly bear density would be locally reduced due to the ability of black bears to more efficiently exploit patchy food resources such as seasonally abundant fruits. To test our hypotheses, we used detections of 309 grizzly and 597 black bears from two independent genetic sampling methods in spatially‐explicit capture–recapture (SECR) models. Our results suggest grizzly bear density was lower in areas of high black bear density during spring and summer, although intraspecific densities were also important, particularly during the breeding season. Black bears had lower densities in areas of high grizzly bear density in spring; however, density of black bears in early and late summer was best explained by primary productivity. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that smaller‐bodied, more abundant black bears may influence the density patterns of behaviorally‐dominant grizzly bears through exploitative competition. We also suggest that seasonal variation in resource availability be considered in efforts to relate environmental conditions to animal density.