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.     

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.     

Coexistence and competition within Acartia (Copepoda,Calanoida) congeners from Lebanese coastal water: niche overlap measurements

Annual succession and ecological niche formation among six dominant coexisting species of the genus Acartia were studied between 1979 and 1989. The coexisting species: A. discaudata, A. clausi, A. grani, A. italica, A. josephinae and A. latisetosa formed dense populations at different periods in Jounieh harbour (Central Lebanon, eastern Mediterranean). Using numerical data analysis, I defined and measured niche hyperspaces and niche overlaps of these species. Although both spatial and temporal segregation occurred between congeners, the amount of niche overlap was estimated in relation to the availability, use, and abundance of natural resources. The hydrobiological factors prevailing in the port were considered resource states. They include eight parameters: water temperature and salinity, dissolved oxygen, mineral phosphate, nitrate, chlorophyll-a concentration, plankton biomass, and species diversity of the plankton community. Some competition occurred between the co-existing species and an attempt is made to estimate this. As a result of this competition different ecological niches have developed for each species. Niche overlaps, their hyperspaces, and niche breadth between the congeners are estimated and computed using several indices, such as those based on Levin's and Lloyd's formulae. Two groups of Acartia congeners are defined: a group of spring affinity formed by A. clausi, A. discaudata, and A. grani and a second group involving A. italica, A. josephinae and A.-latisetosa, showing a spring-summer tendency. These coexisting species exhibited certain strategies in their opportunistic behaviours, in order to adapt to a highly variable marine environment, such as the one found in Jounieh port.     

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.     

洮河自然保护区大峪沟林区紫果云杉群落木本植物种群生态位特征

基于群落调查数据,以样地代表多种资源的综合状态,物种重要值作为生态位的计测指标,利用Levins和Shannon生态位宽度,Schoener生态位相似和Pianka生态位重叠对洮河自然保护区大峪沟林区的紫果云杉群落木本植物种群生态位进行定量研究。结果表明：紫果云杉群落乔木层共有树种8种,隶属于4科6属,紫果云杉占绝对优势,岷江冷杉为次优势种;灌木层共有植物50种,隶属于16科25属,忍冬科的蓝靛果、葱皮忍冬和唐古特忍冬等以及蔷薇科的峨眉蔷薇和银露梅等构成了灌木层的主体,紫果云杉幼苗优势不明显,但生态位宽度最大。本研究表明,生态位宽度受物种生态特性及其分布和生境共同影响,重要值大的物种生态位宽度一般较大,生态位宽度大的物种之间生态位相似性和重叠性一般较大,并与其它物种重叠的概率高、重叠程度大,生态位宽度小的物种集中出现时也会出现较大的生态位重叠,同科或同属的物种间常有较大生态位相似和重叠。生态位宽度反映着种群的扩散潜力,生态位相似反映着群落的稳定性,生态位重叠反映着物种间存在或潜在的竞争程度。紫果云杉在乔、灌木层均有最大的生态位宽度,生态适应性最强,群落结构稳定,具有进一步扩散的可能。     

Dietary shifts in a stressed fish assemblage: Consequences of a bivalve invasion in the San Francisco Estuary

We compared dietary patterns within a temperate estuarine fish assemblage (Suisun Marsh, CA, U.S.A.) during a period of high mysid shrimp abundance and after a major decline in mysid abundance caused by the invasion of the overbite clam Potamocorbula amurensis. Prior to the invasion, high dietary overlap, high stomach fullness, and low niche breadth occurred among the fishes in spring when mysid populations were high. Dietary overlaps decreased and niche breadth increased for all species but the endemic splittail Pogonichthys macrolepidotus in fall when mysid populations were low. Eight native species exhibited lower overall collective overlaps and fuller stomachs than five alien species, suggesting more efficient resource partitioning. After mysid abundance declined, only alien striped bass Morone saxatilis preyed upon mysids in greater than trace amounts. An alien mysid became an important prey for small striped bass, but striped bass also switched to piscivory at a smaller size than when mysids were abundant. Eight of 13 species exhibited significant declines in abundance during the study period, which were concordant with the original importance of mysids in their diets. Our results suggest that altered lower food web dynamics in the San Francisco Estuary caused by the invasion of the overbite clam changed fish diets and have contributed to declines in fish abundance.     

浙江南部近海主要虾类的时空生态位及种间联结性

根据2015年11月(秋季)、2016年2月(冬季)、5月(春季)、8月(夏季)在浙江南部近海的调查数据,运用生态位宽度、生态位重叠值、方差比率法、卡方检验、联结系数以及种对共同出现百分率对主要虾类间的关系进行研究.结果表明:1)在时间维度上,扁足异对虾的生态位宽度值最大;在空间维度上,中华管鞭虾的生态位宽度值最大;在时空二维上,扁足异对虾的生态位宽度值最大;2)在时间维度上,假长缝拟对虾和细巧仿对虾的生态位重叠值最高,拥有最大的时间生态位重叠值(>0.99);在空间维度上,凹管鞭虾、中国对虾、假长缝拟对虾和滑脊等腕虾的生态位重叠值最高(0.96);在时空二维上,中国对虾和凹管鞭虾的生态位重叠值最高;3)方差比率法分析表明,主要虾类总体呈显著正关联,其中有13个种对间的联结性达到显著水平(χ²≥3.841),联结系数(AC)和共同出现百分率(PC)表明种间联结性趋于正相关.本研究结果为探讨虾类的生态位分化、种间竞争及对环境的适应性研究提供了数据资料.     

Non-linear relationship between body size of terrestrial carnivores and their trophic niche breadth and overlap

Studying food partitioning of mammalian predators is important for understanding trophic structures and interactions between coexisting carnivore species. This is particularly pertinent in the light of expanding ranges of populations of generalist species whose habitat and diet overlap with more specialized species. Here, we tested the resource partitioning hypothesis in terrestrial carnivores, predicting that trophic niche breadth and overlap relate positively to body mass. We used dietary data from 18 terrestrial carnivore taxa in four families (Canidae, Mustelidae, Felidae and Ursidae; body mass 0.1–173.6 kg) in three regions in Central and Eastern Europe, i.e. deciduous forest and forest-steppe region (DFR), temperate deciduous and mixed forest region (MFR) and transitory mixed forest regions (TFR). We ranked carnivores along an axis of trophic niche (breadth and overlap), and analysed the relationship between trophic niche and body mass (or pair-wise difference in body mass). A hierarchical cluster analysis of diet composition divided carnivores into four ecological groups: wild ungulate predators; small-mammal predators; amphibians and small mammal predators and omnivores. The relationship between body mass of predators and both trophic niche breadth and trophic niche overlap were hump-shaped. The trophic niche breadth to body mass ratio was significantly lower in DFR than in TFR and trophic niche overlap was significantly higher in DFR than in MFR and TFR. The predominant food resource is small mammals whose abundance is related to local agricultural and forestry management practices. Modifications of management techniques can affect population dynamics and community composition of carnivore species, especially in the case of small-mammal predators.     

南麂列岛东侧海域主要游泳动物生态位及种间联结性

根据2017年秋季和2018年春季在南麂列岛东侧海域进行的渔业资源调查所获数据,应用相对重要性指数、生态位宽度、聚类分析、生态位重叠值、基于2×2数据矩阵的χ²检验、方差比率、联结系数、共同出现百分率和点相关系数等,分析了主要游泳动物的种间关系和生态联系.结果表明: 在调查的30种主要游泳动物中,优势种有龙头鱼、三疣梭子蟹和口虾蛄3种,它们的生态位宽度较宽.采用生态位宽度聚类分析,可以将主要游泳动物划分为广生态位种、中生态位种和狭生态位种3个类型.生态位重叠值分布区间为[0, 0.98],说明物种对资源利用的相似性存在差异,生态位出现分化并伴随种间竞争现象.根据方差比率和W检验得出主要游泳动物间总体为显著正相关.χ²检验结果显示,联结性显著的有76个种对(χ²≥3.841),这与群落结构稳定性、物种共存现象存在一定关联.联结系数(AC)、共同出现百分率和点相关系数检验结果表明,物种间联结性较强,总体趋于正相关关系.     

广东翁源青云山自然保护区森林群落优势树种的生态位特征

为探讨广东翁源青云山自然保护区植被的生境适应性和竞争机制,对青云山自然保护区森林群落优势树种的生态位特征进行了分析。结果表明,群落优势种的重要值之和为49.01,其中杉木（Cunninghamia lanceolata）的重要值最大,毛竹（Phyllostachys edulis）的变异系数最大。优势种的Levins和Shannon生态位宽度较为一致,罗浮柿（Diospyros morrisiana）、栲（Castanopsis fargesii）、木荷（Schima superba）、鼠刺（Itea chinensis）和罗浮锥（C.faberi）的生态位宽度较大,而毛竹、杉木、黧蒴锥（C.fissa）和华润楠（Machilus chinensis）的生态位宽度相对较窄。所有物种对间的生态位重叠度和生态位相似性较小,表明共存物种的种间竞争不激烈,因而群落处于相对稳定的状态。生态位宽度与重要值的关系不显著,而与重要值变异系数呈显著的负相关关系,表明重要值变异系数是影响生态位宽度的重要因素。这为青云山自然保护区森林资源的保护和管理提供重要的科学依据。     

Foraging habitats and foraging distances of bumblebees, Bombus spp. (Hym., Apidae), in an agricultural landscape

Abstract: In selected foraging habitats of an agricultural landscape flower visits of bumblebees and community structure of foraging bumblebees were studied, with special regard to the role of crops as super-abundant resources. Most crops represent temporal foraging habitats with high abundance of bumblebees but mainly with low diversity in the bumblebee forage community, in contrast to permanent foraging habitats such as, for example, a hedgerow. The high numbers of bumblebees in the monoculture of crop plantations consisted mainly of short-tongued bumblebee species. The role of foraging distances for the visitation rate of foraging habitats was studied by performing capture–recapture experiments with natural nests of Bombus terrestris , Bombus lapidarius and Bombus muscorum . Differences were found on the species as well as the individual level. The foraging distances of B. muscorum were more restricted to the neighbourhood of the nesting habitat than the foraging activity of B. terrestris and B. lapidarius . High percentages of B. terrestris workers were recaptured while foraging on super-abundant resources in distances up to 1750 m from the nest. Isolated patches of highly rewarding forage crops, in agricultural landscapes, are probably only accessed by bumblebee species with large mean foraging distances, such as the short-tongued B. terrestris . Species like the rare, long-tongued B. muscorum depend on a close connection between nesting and foraging habitat. A restricted foraging radius might be one important factor of bumblebee species loss and potential pollinator limitation in modern agricultural landscapes. Furthermore, long-distance flights of bumblebee pollinators have to be considered in the present discussion on gene flow from transgenic plant species on a landscape scale.     

Realised niche changes in a native herbivore assemblage associated with the presence of livestock

Habitat partitioning is a common ecological mechanism to avoid competition among coexisting species, and the introduction of new species into existing assemblages can increase competitive pressures. However, situations of species in allopatry and sympatry only differing in species presence but not in environmental conditions are scarce. Thus, discerning whether niche segregation arises from competition or from different habitat preferences is usually unfeasible. Here, we analyse species’ habitat niches in an assemblage of native and introduced herbivores in southern Patagonia. We test if niche overlap is higher between native and domestic herbivores than among natives as expected from the relatively short time of coexistence, and we evaluate the effect of intra‐ and interspecific competition on niche breadth. We use a probabilistic multidimensional approach and null models to evaluate overlap and changes in niche dimensions. Overlap among native species is low as expected for species coexisting in evolutionary time. In native‐domestic species pairs, niche overlap was higher than among natives, although showing some niche segregation indicating niche differentiation in ecological time. Moreover, the presence of domestic species was associated with niche narrowing of both native and introduced species, revealing interspecific density‐dependent effects on their habitat niche during resource shortage periods.     

Complex relationships between species niches and environmental heterogeneity affect species co-occurrence patterns in modelled and real communities

Species co-occurrence analysis is commonly used to assess how interspecific interactions dictate community assembly. Non-random co-occurrences, however, may also emerge from niche differences as well as environmental heterogeneity. The relationships between species co-occurrence patterns, environmental heterogeneity and species niches are not fully understood, due to complex interactions among them. To analyse the relationships among these patterns and processes, I developed synthetic community models and analysed a large dataset of tree species across the conterminous United States. Niche overlap and environmental heterogeneity had significant and contrasting effects on species co-occurrence patterns, in both modelled and real communities. Niche breadth, in turn, affected the effect sizes of both variables on species co-occurrence patterns. The effect of niche breadth on the relationship between co-occurrence and niche overlap was markedly consistent between modelled and real communities, while its effect on the relationship between co-occurrence and environmental heterogeneity was mostly consistent between real and modelled data. The results of this analysis highlight the complex and interactive effects of species niche overlap, niche breadth and environmental heterogeneity on species co-occurrence patterns. Therefore, inferring ecological processes from co-occurrence patterns without accounting for these fundamental characteristics of species and environments may lead to biased conclusions.     

Rarity in Australian desert lizards

Most species of Australian desert lizards are uncommon. Possible causes of rarity are examined, including body size as measured by snout–vent length (SVL), fecundity, number of sites occupied, habitat niche breadth, microhabitat niche breadth, dietary niche breadth, and average total niche overlap with other species. Rare species tend to be larger with lower fecundities than abundant species and they occur at fewer sites. Many, but not all, uncommon species are specialists, either in habitat, microhabitat, or diet. The niche breadth hypothesis, which states that abundant species should be generalists whereas specialized species should be rare, is tested, but rejected as a general explanation for rarity. Some uncommon species exhibit high overlap with other species suggesting that they may experience diffuse competition. However, no single cause of rarity can be identified, but rather each species has its own idiosyncratic reasons for being uncommon. Multivariate analyses show distinct ecological differences between abundant and uncommon species.     

Feeding behavior and trophic niche partitioning between co-existing river otter species

Niche partitioning occurs among coexisting populations to reduce the effects of competitive exclusion among species of similar niche. The aim of the present study is to verify the trophic niche partitioning and feeding behavior between two mustelids, the Giant otter and the Neotropical otter, through the dry and rainy season hydrologic of the Lower Xingu River. Our results suggest that the diets of both mustelids are composed primarily of fish of the family Anostomidae (Headstanders). Despite extensive niche overlap, our results indicate partitioning is facilitated by differences in niche breadth, with potential implications for conservation of both species in the case of declines in prey abundance and diversity. Both species inhabit an area recently impacted by completion of the Belo Monte Hydropower Plant, resulting in large changes to the hydrologic regime. Thus, our results provide important information for conservation efforts regarding the feeding behavior and co-occurrence of both species, as well as providing a baseline for monitoring future health of these mustelid populations. The present study is the first to test the hypothesis of niche partitioning between these two mustelids outside a protected area in the Amazon.

     

Niche dynamics of sympatric non-breeding shearwaters under varying prey availability

Variation in prey availability can cause changes in species interactions among marine predators. Foraging theory predicts that niche breadth will expand when resources become limited, possibly leading to higher niche overlap among sympatric species; however, a species’ niche can become constrained by interactions with other similar species, resulting in an inability to shift niche breadth or position. In coastal Newfoundland, Capelin Mallotus villosus is the main forage fish species and its availability (i.e. biomass) during the summer has varied considerably following a population collapse in the 1990s. During the summer, non-breeding Great and Sooty Shearwaters Ardenna gravis and A. grisea migrate and aggregate at annually persistent Capelin spawning sites. We used stable isotope ratios (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N) of blood components (plasma, red blood cells) to investigate variation in isotopic niche breadth (95% prediction ellipse areas) and overlap of the two shearwater species during 2014, 2015 and 2016. Capelin availability varied among years, illustrated by lower peak biomass in 2015 (0.126 g/m²) and 2016 (0.027 g/m²) relative to 2014 (0.254 g/m²). The isotopic niche breadth (plasma) of both shearwater species expanded similarly from 2014 (0.65–0.66‰²) to 2015 (2.22–2.57‰²) and 2016 (1.15–1.42‰²), suggesting the incorporation of alternative prey types into their diet during years of lower prey availability. Isotopic niche overlap between Great and Sooty Shearwaters remained high across years (44–63%), however, providing little evidence for dietary niche partitioning during years of lower prey availability. Findings suggest that both shearwater species are flexible foragers and can modify their diet during the non-breeding season to accommodate fluctuations in prey availability.     

Effectiveness of size frequency distributions in regulating intraspecific spatial overlap of stream insects

Spatial niche breadth and overlap of size groups of four species of epilithic stream insects were studied to determine if broad size frequency distributions serve to reduce intraspecific competition for space. Mean niche overlap decreased with greater breadth of size frequency distributions for only one species (Baetis intercalaris) and did not vary in relation to population density. Similarly, the ratio of the probabilities of intergroup and intragroup encounter did not vary as a function of the breadth of size frequency distributions. Therefore, it was concluded that changes in size frequency distribution have a minimal effect on intraspecific competition for space among epilithic species. It was suggested that observed size frequency distributions may be more a function of extant environmental conditions (temperature and flow) than of previous or extant intraspecific competition.     

Resource partitioning in sympatric langurs and macaques in tropical rainforests of the central Western Ghats, south India

In a competitive sympatric association, coexisting species may try to reduce interspecific interactions as well as competition for similar resources by several ecological and behavioral practices. We studied resource utilization of three sympatric primate species namely, lion-tailed macaques (Macaca silenus), bonnet macaques (M. radiata) and Hanuman langurs (Semnopithecus entellus) in a tropical rainforest of the central Western Ghats, south India. We studied resource use, tree-height use, foraging height, substrate use when consuming animal prey and interspecific interactions. The results revealed that across the year, there was very limited niche overlap in diet between each species-pair. Each primate species largely depended on different plant species or different plant parts and phenophases from shared plant species. Primate species used different heights for foraging, and the two macaque species searched different substrates when foraging on animal prey. We also recorded season-wise resource abundance for the resources shared by these three primate species. While there was low dietary overlap during the dry season (a period of relatively low resource abundance), there was high dietary overlap between the two macaque species during the wet season (a period of high resource abundance for the shared resources). We observed only a few interspecific interactions. None of these were agonistic, even during the period of high niche overlap. This suggests that the sympatric primate species in this region are characterized by little or no contest competition. Unlike in some other regions of the Western Ghats, the lack of interspecific feeding competition appears to allow these primates, especially the macaques, to remain sympatric year-round.     

The coexistence of fish species in streams: relationships between assemblage attributes and trophic and environmental variables

Diet overlap and niche breadth are well-known species traits from trophic ecology that can assist in explaining how species interact and coexist as well as the ecological mechanisms that influence biodiversity. In the present study, we analyzed the relationships between these trophic variables and indicators of resource availability with some attributes of fish assemblages (species richness, Shannon diversity index, evenness, density and individual body size). The physical and chemical characteristics of the biotopes (topography, water quality and conservation of slopes) were examined to identify possible patterns. Monthly sampling using electrofishing was conducted in 2003 along five streams located in the Cuiabá River watershed. The relationships between environmental variables and attributes of fish assemblages were evaluated using Spearman correlation. Species richness and abundance varied among streams, with higher values (54 and 82 species) found in low-gradient streams that drained small swampy areas discharging in Cuiabá River. Diet overlap showed significant and negative correlations with species richness, the diversity index, abundance, variation in body size and food availability and positive correlations with evenness and niche breadth. Environments that had greater food availability had a reduced variety of food items (smaller amplitude) and distinct values in terms of dietary overlap. Nevertheless, to explain resource partitioning in a fish assemblage (overlap), it is necessary to consider food availability and niche breadth (degree of trophic specialization) beyond the interaction of these variables with species richness and density. In conclusion, high diversity and abundance values were strongly associated with a high degree of trophic specialization (low amplitude of trophic niche) and a small degree of overlap in the diet.     

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.