Juvenile versus adult competition

A general class of age-structured models based upon the McKendrick/von Foerster equations are used to study intraspecific competition between juveniles and adults. Criteria for the existence and stability of equilibria are obtained and the dependence of equilibrium stability (i.e. equilibrium resilience) on competition coefficients is analyzed for low inherent net reproductive numbers. The results are applied to the question of whether juvenile vs. adult intraspecific competition is stabilizing or destabilizing. Two types of competition are studied. The first, involving suppressed adult fertility due to competition from juveniles, was found to be destabilizing in that equilibrium levels are lowered and equilibrium resilience weakened by increased competition. The second, involving increased juvenile mortality due to competition from adults, was found to be considerably more complicated. While equilibrium levels were again reduced by increased competition, equilibrium resilience can either be weakened or strengthened. A criterion for determining the effects on resilience is derived and several examples are given to illustrate various possibilities in this case.The author gratefully acknowledges the support of the Applied Mathematics Division and the Population Biology/Ecology Division of the National Science Foundation under NSF grant No. DMS-8902508Research supported by the Department of Energy under contracts W-7405-ENG-36 and KC-07-01-01     

秦岭太白山巴山冷杉种内和种间竞争特性的研究

通过对不同方法的比较分析,提出了确定巴山冷杉(Abies fargesii)植株间竞争强度和竞争范围的新方法,并利用改进的方法研究了其种内和种间竞争强度。结果表明:随对象木胸径的增大,由于巴山冷杉种群自然稀疏过程中密度调节作用,植株距离增加,种内竞争强度降低;巴山冷杉主要分布于亚高山地段,群落内太白红杉(Larixchinensis)数量较多,胸径较大,种内与种间竞争关系顺序为:太白红杉-巴山冷杉>巴山冷杉-巴山冷杉>牛皮桦(Betula utilis)-巴山冷杉>其它树种-巴山冷杉;竞争强度和对象木胸径的关系服从幂函数关系(CI=AD-B),当巴山冷杉胸径达到25 cm以上时,种内和种间竞争强度变化较小。研究表明,改进的方法能很好地预测巴山冷杉种内和种间的竞争强度。     

大兴安岭森林草原过渡带白桦及主要草本植物生态位关系的研究

以白桦、日阴菅及其它主要草本植物的个体数量为指标,分析了各植物种群在土壤有机质,速效P和pH值3个资源维上的生态位宽度和生态位重叠及其在不同海拔条件下的变化规律。日阴菅生态位宽度随海拔升高而增大,其余植物种类在有机质资源维上的生态位宽度,大都是以中等海拔（800m)的样带最宽,而在速效P资源维上,又以中等海拔的样带为最窄,由于高海拔及相应低气温在某种程度上限制了植物种群在土壤有机质和速效P的利用,主要植物种对之间在这两个资源维上的生态位重叠以高海拔（950m)样带为最小,在土壤pH值资源维上,溪荪与其它主要植物种间的生态位重叠皆以低海拔（650m)样带为最小,可能是其特殊的环境组合迫使溪荪发生了生态位移动,大多数种对在土壤有机质,速效P和pH值3个资源维上都以海拔800m的样带生态位重叠最大。     

Host range evolution is not driven by the optimization of larval performance: the case of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lycaeides melissa</Emphasis> (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) and the colonization of alfalfa

Herbivorous insects that have recently incorporated novel hosts into their diet provide unique opportunities for understanding factors that promote or constrain the evolution of niche breadth. Lycaeides melissa has colonized both cultivated and feral alfalfa (Medicago sativa) throughout much of North America within the past 200 years. We investigated the quality of the novel host as a resource for juvenile development, and asked if the novel host is a preferred host for oviposition relative to a native host (Astragalus canadensis). Larval-performance and oviposition-preference were examined using L. melissa individuals from a population associated with both M. sativa and A. canadensis, and oviposition-preference was also examined in another population associated exclusively with M. sativa. In addition, we investigated the effects of M. sativa and A. canadensis flowers on both preference and performance. Only one of the hosts, M. sativa, has flowers that are accessible to nectaring butterflies, and we hypothesized that the presence of flowers could affect female behavior. We find that the novel host is a relatively poor larval resource: adults that were reared as larvae on M. sativa were roughly one-third the size of adults that were reared on the native host, A. canadensis. The native host, Astragalus canadensis, is the preferred host in choice experiments involving only foliage. However, when flowers were included in preference assays, the native and novel hosts received similar numbers of eggs. Thus, the presence of flowers on hosts in the field might influence the utilization of a novel and inferior larval resource. These results are consistent with a model in which host shifts are driven by adult behavior that does not directly optimize larval performance.     

南岭中段森林优势树种及其生态位随海拔梯度变化特征

本研究在南岭中段海拔400~1 800 m天然林保存良好的区域建立45块生态监测样地,并根据这些样地的海拔分布范围和树种组成归类为4种森林植被类型。通过调查评估关键生态位特征参数指标及生态位资源利用假说的论证,研究不同海拔梯度优势树种的差异及其生态位特征。结果显示：（1）不同海拔梯度优势种存在一定差异性,海拔高差越大,优势种组成差异越明显。（2）高海拔的常绿阔叶矮林区域优势树种对资源需求具有高度的一致性,种间竞争最激烈。（3）优势树种的生态位宽度与其重要值呈弱正相关,与重要值变异系数则呈显著负相关;生态位宽度与生态位的重叠和相似性之间存在一定的联系,但这种联系无明显的规律。（4）重要值和生态位宽度较大且变异系数较小的树种为甜槠（Castanopsis eyrei （Champ.） Tutch）、青冈（Cyclobalanopsis glauca （Thunb.） Oerst）和木荷（Schima superba Gardn. et Champ.）,提示这几个树种是南岭中段地区主要的建群树种。（5）中低海拔区域的林分对资源利用方式的划分较符合生态位理论资源利用假说中的随机生态位边界假说;高海拔区域的林分对资源利用方式符合生态位优先占领假说。     

Ants distinguish neighbors from strangers

Summary Ants are known to distinguish their own nests and nestmates from all others, using colony-specific odors. Here I show that harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex barbatus) can further distinguish between two kinds of non-nestmates of the same species: neighbors and strangers. Interactions between colonies were thought to depend on the numbers of alien ants that each colony encounters on its territory. The results described here show that such interactions also depend on information about colony identity. Encounters on foraging trails with ants from neighboring colonies, deter foraging more than encounters with ants from distant ones. The history of interactions between particular pairs of colonies may have important effects on intraspecific competition for food.     

Spatial patterns of mortality in a Colorado desert plant community

Spatial pattern and patterns of mortality were analyzed from a five year re-census of over 7000 mapped perennial shrubs within a one hectare study plot in Joshua Tree National Park. A five year interval revealed evidence for negative intraspecific interactions which was not evident after a one year evaluation of the same plants within the study area. Juvenile mortality was a positive function of conspecific density for Ambrosia dumosa, Eriogonum fasciculatum and Sphaeralcea ambigua. In addition, juvenile E. fasciculatum that died occurred closer to conspecific adults than would be expected by chance. The two censuses are similar in that uniform patterns of distribution among conspecifics are rare, particularly for non-succulent species.These results emphasize the value of mapped study sites in allowing dynamic inferences from otherwise static analyses. Herbivory and nurse effects are implicated as potential factors influencing the dispersion of perennial plants within deserts.     

太白红杉种内和种间竞争研究

采用逐步扩大范围的方法确定影响对象木 (Objectivetree) 的最佳竞争范围, 利用单木竞争指数的改进模型对太白红杉 (Larixchinensis) 种内和种间竞争强度进行了定量分析, 并讨论了不同竞争强度下太白红杉的形态变化。结果表明 :随对象木胸径的增大, 由于太白红杉种群自然稀疏过程中密度调节作用, 植株距离增加, 种内竞争强度降低 ;太白红杉主要分布于亚高山地段, 群落内其它物种较少, 个体普遍较小, 结果种间竞争相对较弱, 种内与种间竞争关系顺序为 :太白红杉 太白红杉 >巴山冷杉 (Abiesfargesii) 太白红杉 >牛皮桦 (Betulaplatyphylla) 太白红杉 >其它树种 太白红杉 ;竞争强度和对象木胸径的关系服从幂函数关系 (CI =AD-B), 当太白红杉胸径达到 35cm以上时, 竞争强度几乎没有变化, 所得的预测模型能很好地预测太白红杉种内和种间的竞争强度 ;不同竞争强度下, 太白红杉主茎各层的分枝角度、总分枝数、当年生枝条长、平均枝长和活枝数均表现出显著的差异。表明采用逐步扩大范围的方法能有效地确定竞争木范围, 较好地反应太白红杉种内和种间的竞争关系。同时, 太白红杉通过自身形态变化, 提高了对光的截获能力和对不同竞争强度的适应能力。     

珙桐群落种内与种间竞争研究

采用Hegyi的单木竞争指数模型对卧龙自然保护区的珙桐群落种内与种间竞争强度进行定量分析,并讨论了不同竞争强度下珙桐的形态变化。结果表明：珙桐受到的竞争强度随着林木径级的增大而逐渐减小,珙桐种内竞争较之与其伴生树种间的竞争剧烈;在群体水平上,珙桐种内与种间竞争强度顺序为：珙桐种内〉汶川钓樟〉野核桃〉灯台树〉光叶珙桐〉白楠〉总状山矾〉五裂槭〉稠李〉蛮青冈;竞争强度和对象木胸径的关系服从幂函数关系（CI=AD^-B）,当珙桐的胸径达到30cm以上时,竞争强度变化很小,所得的模型能很好的预测珙桐种内与种间的竞争强度;不同竞争强度下,珙桐主干各层的逐级分枝率（R1：2）、分枝角度、平均枝长和当年生枝条长都有一定的差异,其中下层的分枝角度、平均枝长和当年生枝条长对邻体竞争表现出极强的可塑性。说明珙桐通过自身形态变化,提高了对资源的利用能力,增强了对不同生境的适应性。     

云南大理古城牛背鹭与其竞争种的巢空间生态位分化动态研究

牛背鹭（Bubulcus ibis）作为入侵物种由非洲向美洲的扩散得到了广泛关注,然而牛背鹭与其竞争物种之间的巢空间生态位分化动态尚不明确。为了解牛背鹭与其他混群繁殖鹭类的巢空间生态位分化动态,2012、2016和2021年春夏季,对中国云南大理古城繁殖鹭类的群落结构和巢空间分布进行了调查。结果表明,2012和2016年中国云南大理古城繁殖鹭类群落的组成物种均为牛背鹭、夜鹭（Nycticorax nycticorax）和白鹭（Egretta garzetta）,其中夜鹭为优势鸟种;2021年繁殖群落增加了中白鹭（Ardea intermedia）,且牛背鹭变为优势鸟种。从2016年到2021年群落巢密度增加,其中牛背鹭的巢密度明显增加,夜鹭和白鹭巢密度均减少。对比2016和2021年牛背鹭、夜鹭和白鹭3种鹭的巢空间生态位宽度数值的变化,发现牛背鹭利用的巢空间生态位更泛化,而夜鹭和白鹭更特化;巢空间生态位重叠值变化表明,2021年牛背鹭对夜鹭、白鹭的巢址竞争比2016年的更激烈,而且2021年牛背鹭与夜鹭之间的巢址竞争比牛背鹭与白鹭之间的更激烈。研究表明,在2012、2016和2021年,在大理古城鹭类繁殖地中,牛背鹭在与比自身个体大的夜鹭的竞争中胜出,群落优势鸟种由夜鹭变为牛背鹭,繁殖鹭类的群落结构和生态位分化均发生了明显变化。     

Which population density affects home ranges of co-occurring rodents?

Animal space use patterns can be affected by the intra- and interspecific density of individuals competing for resources, with home ranges generally decreasing with increasing population density. By applying spatially explicit capture–recapture models implemented in the R package secr, we study whether home ranges of co-occurring yellow-necked mice, Apodemus flavicollis, and bank voles, Myodes glareolus, are related to population density of (a) conspecifics (intraspecific density), (b) the other sympatric species, A. flavicollis or M. glareolus (interspecific density), or (c) total rodent density (A. flavicollis plus M. glareolus). Home ranges of both species were negatively related to intraspecific population density, and were not related to interspecific density or total rodent density. Given that rodents tend to reduce home ranges if resources are abundant, this pattern may merely result from the higher abundance of resources generally associated with high density populations, if the two species were responding to different subsets of resources. However, intraspecific density could directly reduce home ranges, because conspecifics are more likely to interfere with each other due to the overlapping of space use patterns. Therefore, results suggest complementary space or resource use patterns between species, with consequent weak competition and niche differentiation. Across several years and population densities, home ranges of the two co-occurring rodents thus appear to be affected by conspecifics only, suggesting that the two species may coexist in the study area owing to limited space or resource use overlap.     

沙地云杉种内、种间竞争的研究

根据调查资料,采用Ｈｅｇｙｉ提出的单木竞争指数模型ＣＩ＝∑Ｎｊ＝１（Ｄｊ／Ｄｉ）１Ｌｉｊ对内蒙古白音敖包自然保护区的沙地云杉种内、种间的竞争强度进行定量分析。结果表明：沙地云杉种内竞争强度随着林木径级的增大而逐渐减小;种内竞争和种间竞争的强度顺序为：山杨＞沙地云杉种内＞白桦＞家榆。竞争强度与对象木的胸高直径服从幂函数关系ＣＩ＝ＡＤ－Ｂ,当沙地云杉胸高直径达到４０ｃｍ以上时,竞争强度变化很小。利用模型预测了沙地云杉种内、种间的竞争强度。说明Ｈｅｇｙｉ的单木竞争模型可为种内、种间竞争指数的研究提供可适用的数量指标。     

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     

黄果厚壳桂种内与种间竞争的数量关系

采用Hegyi单木竞争指数模型对鼎湖山季风常绿阔叶林建群种黄果厚壳桂的种内、种间竞争强度进行定量分析.结果表明,黄果厚壳桂所受到的竞争强度随着林木径级的增大而逐渐减小.黄果厚壳桂种内竞争较与伴生树种云南银柴的种间竞争弱.黄果厚壳桂种内和种间竞争强度的顺序为:云南银柴>黄果厚壳桂种内>荷木>白颜树>肖蒲桃>锥栗>红车>臀形果>柏拉木>水石梓>窄叶半枫荷>厚壳桂.整个林分及黄果厚壳桂种内竞争木对对象木的竞争强度与对象木的胸径大小之间的关系近似服从幂函数关系,而伴生树种竞争木对对象木的竞争强度与对象木的胸径大小之间的关系近似服从对数函数关系.竞争强度和对象木的胸径大小呈显著负相关关系.     

Resource partitioning through oceanic segregation of foraging juvenile southern elephant seals (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Mirounga leonina</Emphasis>)

In highly dynamic and unpredictable environments such as the Southern Ocean, species that have evolved behaviors that reduce the effects of intra-specific competition may have a selective advantage. This is particularly true when juveniles face disadvantages when foraging due to morphological or physiological limitation, which is the case for many marine mammals. We tracked the at-sea movements of 48 juvenile southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) between the ages of 1 and 4 years from the population at Macquarie Island using locations derived from recorded light levels. There were significant differences in the total amount of the Southern Ocean covered by the different age-groups. The younger seals used a smaller area than the older seals. On average, the younger individuals also made more trips to sea than the older seals and did not travel as far on each trip. Females spent more time at sea than males and there were no significant differences between the total areas used by male and females. In summary, younger seals remained closer to the island at all times, and they spent more time in more northerly regions that older seals. These differences in behavior created temporal and spatial segregation between juveniles of different ages. Therefore, we suggest that these temporal and spatial separations help to avoid intra-specific competition for resources on land, space on beaches, and at-sea foraging areas. Such modifications of haul-out timing and behavior enable them to exploit a patchy and unpredictable environment.