鄂西南木林子常绿落叶阔叶混交林恢复过程中优势树种生态位动态

运用Shannow-wiener生态位宽度指数和Pianka生态位重叠指数,分析了鄂西南木林子常绿落叶阔叶混交林恢复过程中优势树种生态位动态。结果表明:大穗鹅耳枥(Carpinus fargesii)、四照花(Cornus kousa var.Chinensis)、青冈(Cycloblanopsis glauca)生态位总宽度较大,且在5个不同恢复时期均有分布。恢复期14a、35a、60a、85a和110a生态位宽度最大的树种分别为白马桑(Weigela japonica var.sinica)、大穗鹅耳枥、四照花、光皮桦(Betula luminifera)和尾叶冬青(Ilex wilsonii)。随着群落的恢复,优势落叶树种生态位宽度表现出下降趋势,优势常绿树种则呈上升趋势。当恢复到顶极群落阶段,乔木层常绿和落叶树种生态位接近,灌木层常绿灌木占据较大生态位。随着群落的恢复,优势落叶树种与其它树种的生态位重叠值呈波动性下降趋势,优势常绿树种表现为波动性上升趋势,群落全部树种间生态位重叠程度呈小幅度波动性下降趋势。相同或相似生活型的演替早期种间的高生态位重叠,意味着种间对资源利用的相似性和竞争关系,演替后期种与其它树种间的生态位重叠的增加,意味着不同生活型树种在水平空间重叠而在垂直空间分化,这是不同树种对有限环境资源充分利用的一种机制。     

Competition and niche dynamics from steady-state solutions of dispersal equations

A diffusion model of animal dispersal of the type originated by Skellam (1951, Biometrika 38, 196–218) is used to investigate competitive effects between species. The effects of aggregation, dispersal, and nett growth are related to utility functions specific to each species, and to position on an appropriate axis. Utility, in turn, is defined by whatever underlying competition and resource-use models are being used. The analysis enables niche breadth, overlap, and shift, and different measures of competitive effects, to be explicitly related to underlying competitive models, and the method and meaning of regression-based methods of estimating competitive intensity are clarified. Detailed results are given, for a specific example, concerning the effect of exploratory behaviour, local competitive intensity, and niche separation on equilibrium population numbers, competition coefficients, and on niche overlap and its variation with overall population numbers. Niche overlap is shown to be no indicator of the competition coefficient. The results are shown to accord with observational data.     

Modeling co-occurrence between toxic prey and naïve predators in an incipient invasion

Biological invasions can represent important threats to endemic species, including those within the invaders’ food webs. The Asian common toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus) was introduced to Madagascar in 2011. This introduction presents a potentially dangerous prey item to a relatively naïve, highly diverse endemic carnivore fauna. Using a multivariate niche modeling approach (background test), we assessed the predicted niche overlap between D. melanostictus and six endemic carnivores in eastern Madagascar. The overlap between this potential prey and predators was assessed on four environmental niche axes: temperature, precipitation, vegetation cover and elevation. Our results showed a mixture of niche overlap and divergence between D. melanostictus and the six carnivores for environmental axes tested. There was significant overlap with five of the carnivores on temperature and NDVI axes. On the precipitation axis, there was significant overlap between D. melanostictus with two species. Our results suggested that wide-ranging, locally rare carnivores may overlap extensively with D. melanostictus. The six carnivores that inhabit the eastern rainforest of Madagascar will likely share multiple, niche axes with this novel potential prey item. Species that eat the non-native common toad and are susceptible to its toxins are at conservation risk because their populations may not be robust enough to adapt quickly to this threat. We advocate closely monitoring these emerging interactions and suggest a preemptive conservation strategy for carnivores potentially at risk.     

Multivariate measures of similarity and niche overlap

Niche overlap measures are used to assess the similarity in resource use by two species. Recently researchers have used niche overlap measures as summary measures and for making inferences, typically about competition for resources. The problem of estimating niche overlap when the niches are multivariate normal distributions with equal covariance matrices has previously been studied. In this work, the assumption of equal covariance matrices is relaxed. Two general measures of similarity are evaluated assuming general multivariate normal distributions. Commonly used measures of overlap are given as special cases of these two general measures. The question of bias in estimating these measures is discussed and shown to be a potential problem, especially when there are many redundant variables or if sample sizes are small.     

Ecology predicts parapatric distributions in two closely related Antirrhinum majus subspecies

Using a species distribution model, we reconstructed the environmental niches of Antirrhinum majus pseudomajus and Antirrhinum majus striatum, two closely related species with parapatric distributions. We tested whether retention of ancestral environmental niche (i.e. niche conservatism) or adaptation to different ecological conditions (i.e. niche divergence) could explain the maintenance of their non-overlapping geographic ranges. We found that the environmental niche of A. m. pseudomajus is almost twice as large as that of A. m. striatum, with substantial overlap indicating that A. m. pseudomajus and A. m. striatum should co-occur frequently within the geographic range of A. m. striatum. By analysing contact zones where both subspecies are geographically close, we found that the presence of one subspecies instead of the other was significantly influenced by particular combinations of climatic factors. Since independent genetic evidence indicates that the two subspecies have experienced phases of range overlap at or near contact zones over the course of their evolutionary history, we propose that ecological niche displacement might be an important factor in explaining the absence of current range overlap between A. majus subspecies.     

香格里拉县小型兽类垂直空间生态位初步研究

2011年6～7月采用铗夜法,对云南香格里拉县海拔2500～4500 m范围内的小型兽类进行了调查,并分析了群落中各物种的空间生态位宽度指数和生态位重叠指数大小与其沿海拔梯度分布的关系及对空间资源的利用状况.共捕获19种275只小型兽类,其中社鼠(Niviventer confucianus)、中华姬鼠(Apodemus draco)、大耳姬鼠(A.latronum)、齐氏姬鼠(A.chevrieri)、藏鼠兔(Ochotona thibetana)、西南绒鼠(Eothenomys custos)和大足鼠(Rattus nitidus)分布的海拔梯度跨度最大,分布范围较广,占据垂直空间生态位宽,是当地小型兽类群落的优势种.19种小型兽类的空间生态位重叠幅度差异很大,大绒鼠(E.miletus)、灰麝鼩(Crocidura attenuata)、中麝鼩(C.russula vorax)的空间生态位完全重叠;大足鼠、齐氏姬鼠与滇攀鼠(Vernany fulva)、克氏田鼠(Microtus clarkei)、隐纹花松鼠(Tamiops swinhoei)、珀氏长吻松鼠(Dremomys pernyi)、灰鼯鼠(Petaurista xanthatis)、印度长尾鼩(Soriculus leucops)空间生态位完全不重叠.     

渔山岛岩礁基质潮间带大型底栖动物优势种生态位

2009年3月至2010年1月期间对渔山岛岩礁基质潮间带大型底栖动物进行定量采样调查,并获得大型底栖动物85种,筛选出全年取样获得优势种30种,隶属5门7纲24科。对获得的30个优势种以Shannon—Wiener指数为基础进行了生态位宽度测定,以Pianka重叠指数为基础进行了生态位重叠值分析,结果显示：潮间带大型底栖动物群落中优势种生态位宽度变化范围为0.18~1.94,值较高的有条纹隔贻贝、覆瓦小蛇螺、角偏顶蛤、日本笠藤壶、鳞笠藤壶和马氏毛粒蟹,均大于1.00,它们对环境适应的能力较强;各优势种的生态位重叠程度不均匀,在0~0.97之间,它们对群落环境资源的利用存在着交叉,潜在的种间竞争压力较大。以密度数据四次开方为基础,利用欧氏距离进行群落物种的系统聚类分析和非度量多维标度排序分析,结果均表明30个优势种可以分为三大类,即狭布种、泛化种和特有种。优势种生态位宽度、优势种之间的生态位重叠值与物种的分布与数量密切相关,生境相似程度高的物种聚类和排序距离就小,大型底栖动物主要通过在资源位上的分布、摄食类群和生活型等的差异缓解竞争。     

Evidence of Niche Partitioning under Ontogenetic Influences among Three Morphologically Similar Siluriformes in Small Subtropical Streams

Ontogenetic influences in patterns of niche breadth and feeding overlap were investigated in three species of Siluriformes (Heptapterus sp., Rhamdia quelen and Trichomycterus poikilos) aiming at understanding the species coexistence. Samplings were conducted bimonthly by electrofishing technique from June/2012 to June/2013 in ten streams of the northwestern state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The stomach contents of 1,948 individuals were analyzed by volumetric method, with 59 food items identified. In general Heptapterus sp. consumed a high proportion of Aegla sp., terrestrial plant remains and Megaloptera; R. quelen consumed fish, and Oligochaeta, followed by Aegla sp.; while the diet of T. poikilos was based on Simuliidae, Ephemeroptera and Trichoptera. Specie segregation was observed in the NMDS. Through PERMANOVA analysis feeding differences among species, and between a combination of species plus size classes were observed. IndVal showed which items were indicators of these differences. Niche breadth values were high for all species. The niche breadth values were low only for the larger size of R. quelen and Heptapterus sp. while T. poikilos values were more similar. Overall the species were a low feeding overlap values. The higher frequency of high feeding overlap was observed for interaction between Heptapterus sp. and T. poikilos. The null model confirmed the niche partitioning between the species. The higher frequency of high and intermediate feeding overlap values were reported to smaller size classes. The null model showed resource sharing between the species/size class. Therefore, overall species showed a resource partitioning because of the use of occasional items. However, these species share resources mainly in the early ontogenetic stages until the emphasized change of morphological characteristics leading to trophic niche expansion and the apparent segregation observed.     

太行山中段植物群落优势种生态位研究

运用TWINSPAN把样方分为8个群落类型,用Levins、Shannon-wiener生态位宽度公式和Petraitis生态位特定重叠指数公式测定群落中主要种群生态位宽度和生态位重叠,并分析各种群生态位的生态学意义。在总群落中,披针苔草和草地早熟禾的生态位宽度最大,说明它们对群落环境的适应能力最强,对资源的利用能力也最强;在不同的群落里（群落Ⅰ到群落Ⅷ）,相同种群生态位宽度有极大差别,草地早熟禾在群落Ⅱ中,B1为 2.753,B2为 15.561,在群落Ⅷ中,B1为0,B2为1;总群落中,各种群的生态位宽度明显大于其在其他群落里的生态位宽度。两个种群的生态位重叠值越大,说明它们占据越相似的资源空间,珠芽蓼和火绒草的生态位重叠值高达0.892（群落Ⅰ中）,说明它们利用资源的相似性程度很高;在总群落中,各种群之间生态位重叠值都很低。     

北部湾北部生态系统结构与功能——浮游动物空间生态位及其分化

根据2006—2007年北部湾北部海域4个航次调查资料,采用K-优势度曲线法对浮游动物种(类)群进行排序分析,运用Levins公式和Pianka指数分析了主要优势种(类)群的生态位宽度值和生态位重叠程度,并通过除趋势典范对应分析(DCCA)研究生态位分化状况。结果表明,该海区浮游动物优势种(类)群按生态位宽度值可划分为广生态位、中生态位和窄生态位三大类型。其中,广生态位的种(类)群如肥胖软箭虫、亚强次真哲水蚤、长尾类幼体等具有较强的生态适应性,生活范围较广;窄生态位的种(类)群,对环境的适应性较差,对海流和水团等环境因素的变化具有指示意义。生态位宽度能够反映种(类)群丰度季节变化,但不能反映具体丰度大小。北部湾北部全年主要优势种(类)群的生态位宽度值介于0.08—0.77之间,并且各优势种(类)群的生态位宽度差异较大,种对间生态位重叠值介于0.02—0.89之间,平均生态位重叠指数为0.45,种(类)群之间利用资源环境的互补性较强,这与海域内生境多样化并且各优势种对环境适应能力的差异存在一定联系。DCCA分析表明,影响浮游动物分布的主要因子是水深、温度和盐度,其次是叶绿素a和溶解氧。     

Micro-habitat niche differentiation contributing to coexistence of Eucryptorrhynchus scrobiculatus Motschulsky and Eucryptorrhynchus brandti (Harold)*

Temporal, spatial, and trophic niche differentiation usually occurs among species living in similar habitats which can reduce interspecific competition under limited resources. Eucryptorrhynchus scrobiculatus and Eucryptorrhynchus brandti are sympatric and closely related species and are host-specific to Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle in China. However, the possibility of niche differentiation between the two species is not clear. Therefore, we investigated the density of the two weevils temporally, spatially, and trophically (plant parts of A. altissima) at Lingwu farm and Haojiaqiao town, Lingwu city, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. No differences were found in temporal Levin’s niche breath index values ranging from 3.74 to 3.95 and temporal Pianka’s niche overlap values (0.98–0.99). There was little differentiation in the vertical spatial niche. The vertical distribution of E. scrobiculatus was mainly located from 0?cm (ground) to over 250?cm on tree-of-heaven. Eucryptorrhynchus brandti was found predominantly from 0.1 to 50?cm to over 250?cm on tree-of-heaven. The overlap of the cardinal direction spatial niche was 0.90–0.98, indicating no significant overlap in the cardinal direction at Lingwu farm and Haojiaqiao town. Significant differentiation of trophic niche occurred with E. scrobiculatus feeding on 1-year-old branches, perennial branches, and petioles, while E. brandti feed on the stem.     

Fifty years later: trophic ecology and niche overlap of a native and non-indigenous fish species in the western basin of Lake Erie

Since the introduction of white perch (Morone americana) into Lake Erie over 50 years ago, the population size of native yellow perch (Perca flavescens) has decreased up to 79 % and significant changes to the ecosystem have occurred. We examined long-term population estimates and used stable isotopes of carbon (δ ¹³C) and nitrogen (δ ¹⁵N) paired with stomach content analysis to quantify the trophic ecology and niche overlap of adult yellow perch and white perch in the western basin of Lake Erie. We found that changes in yellow perch abundance since 1979 appeared to be better correlated with changes in fishery exploitation rates than with food competition effects from white perch. At the time of this study, yellow perch were found to have higher δ ¹³C values, indicating greater utilization of benthic food resources than white perch, and white perch occupied higher trophic positions based on δ ¹⁵N. The diets of both species varied spatially and seasonally based on stable isotopes and stomach contents, likely driven by changes in prey abundance. Comparison of niche widths using stable isotope population metrics and Schoener diet similarity index suggested a low to moderate degree of niche overlap between species. Isotopic niches of white perch were generally larger than those of yellow perch demonstrating broader resource utilization by this non-indigenous species. We submit that isotopic niche overlap comparisons are more appropriate for studies seeking to understand interactions among populations over course temporal scales, while diet overlap indices, such as the Schoener index provide a means to study fine-scale interactions such as ontogenetic and seasonal diet shifts.     

Coexistence of carnivores in a heterogeneous landscape: habitat selection and ecological niches

Understanding distributional patterns and mechanisms used by species for habitat selection is crucial to adopt effective land management policies in terms of biodiversity conservation. A heterogeneous landscape may allow coexistence of species. That coexistence will be dependent on the availability of the resources in the habitat that has to be sufficient to fulfil their basic needs. The present study aimed to investigate habitat selection, niche breadth and niche overlap of three sympatric carnivore species (Vulpes vulpes, Genetta genetta and Martes foina) in a typically fragmented landscape from Central Portugal, using camera-trapping techniques. The results obtained revealed that the investigated species use the available habitats differently and in a non-random way. The red fox showed the most specialized behaviour, positively selecting coniferous forests. The common genet preferred eucalyptus, avoiding old-growth mixed woodland, in contrast with stone marten that exhibited a strong preference for this late habitat, avoiding eucalyptus. Concerning the niche breadth, the genet had the highest value while the red fox had the lowest one. The results obtained at the camera-trap level showed that the highest niche overlap occurred between the genet and the stone marten which suggests that these species can coexist and share the available resources. Regarding the habitat level, the greatest niche overlap was found for the stone marten and the red fox, indicating the exploration of the same general habitat conditions by both species. The results obtained in the present study support the concept that landscape complexity allows coexistence between species within the same trophic level.     

Niche Conservatism and the Future Potential Range of Epipactis helleborine (Orchidaceae)

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the current distribution of suitable niches for the invasive orchid species, Epipactis helleborine, and to estimate the possibility of its further expansion. Moreover, niche modeling tools were used to explain its rapid expansion in North America and to test the niche conservatism of the species. The maximum entropy method was used to create models of the suitable niche distribution. A database of E. helleborine localities was prepared based on the examination of herbarium specimens, information from electronic databases as well as data gathered during field works. The differences between the niches occupied by native and invasive populations were evaluated using the niche overlap and niche identity test indexes. Moreover, the coverage of the most suitable habitats for the species was measured for three future scenarios as well as for the present time model. Populations of E. helleborine occupy North American west coast habitats very similar to those preferred by native, Eurasian populations, while the expansion in the east coast is related to the niche shift. The created models of suitable niche distribution indicate that the species does not realize its potential niche in the native range. The total surface of the habitats potentially available for E. helleborine will decrease in all climate change scenarios created for 2080.     

高原鼠兔有效洞穴密度对青藏高原高寒草甸群落植物生态位的影响

高原鼠兔(Ochotona curzoniae)有效洞穴密度扩增会引起高寒草甸植物群落组分的变化。采用野外调查方法研究了高原鼠兔有效洞穴密度对青藏高原高寒草甸群落植物生态位的影响。结果表明:随高原鼠兔有效洞穴密度增加,样方内植物种数逐渐增多,但主要是毒杂草,有效洞穴密度超过15个/625m2时豆科植物出现。优势种高山嵩草(Kobresia pygmaea)的重要值随有效洞穴密度增加呈单峰曲线,峰值出现在15个/625m2。有效洞穴密度低于或等于21个/625m2时,优势种高山嵩草生态位宽度位居第一,但有效洞穴密度达31个/625m2时,其生态位宽度降至并列第三,低于小米草(Euphrasia pectinata)和钝裂银莲花(Anemone obtusiloba),等同于小花草玉梅(Anemone rivularis)和乳浆大戟(Euphorbia esula)。有效洞穴密度分别为10个/625m2,15个/625m2,21个/625m2,31个/625m2时,与高山嵩草生态位重叠度最大的物种分别为莓叶委陵菜(Potentilla fragarioides)、圆叶筋骨草(Ajuga ovalifolia)、乳浆大戟、条叶垂头菊(Cremanthodium lineare)。有效洞穴密度为10个/625m2时,高山嵩草是群落内种群间竞争最激烈的一方,但有效洞穴密度超过或等于15个/625m2时,高山嵩草则退出了种群间竞争最激烈的双方。说明高原鼠兔有效密度增加严重影响了高寒草甸群落组分、重要值、生态位宽度和生态位重叠值。     

A framework for characterizing overlap of communication and computation in parallel applications

Effective overlap of computation and communication is a well understood technique for latency hiding and can yield significant performance gains for applications on high-end computers. In this paper, we propose an instrumentation framework for message-passing systems to characterize the degree of overlap of communication with computation in the execution of parallel applications. The inability to obtain precise time-stamps for pertinent communication events is a significant problem, and is addressed by generation of minimum and maximum bounds on achieved overlap. The overlap measures can aid application developers and system designers in investigating scalability issues. The approach has been used to instrument two MPI implementations as well as the ARMCI system. The implementation resides entirely within the communication library and thus integrates well with existing approaches that operate outside the library. The utility of the framework is demonstrated by analyzing communication-computation overlap for micro-benchmarks and the NAS benchmarks, and the insights obtained are used to modify the NAS SP benchmark, resulting in improved overlap.

舟山长白海域主要游泳动物生态位及其分化研究

基于2016年10月（秋季）和2017年4月（春季）舟山长白海域的渔业资源调查数据,运用生态位宽度、生态位重叠及冗余分析等方法,研究了主要游泳动物的生态位,种间生态关系及生态位分化。结果显示：春、秋季主要游泳动物分别11种与8种,两季生态位宽度值差异均较大,其中春季广生态位种、中生态位种均为3种,而秋季均为2种,窄生态位种分别为5种与4种。相对重要性指数（IRI）与生态位宽度值（B_i）之间呈显著正相关。生态位重叠程度不均衡,秋季主要游泳动物的生态位重叠程度较高,O_ik > 0.6的种对数占总种对数的42.86%;春季的重叠程度较低,仅占总种对数的21.82%。RDA分析得出温度、盐度为影响主要游泳动物分布的直接因素,而溶解氧、悬浮物和pH等则为重要因素,主要游泳动物在这些资源维上存在生态分化现象。综上,分布在毗邻杭州湾口且位于著名的岱衢洋的主要游泳动物种类总体营养级较低却生态宽度值较大,大黄鱼（Larimichthys crocea）、黄姑鱼（Nibea albiflora）等一些传统的高营养级、典型特色经济种类却沦为生态位宽度极小的一般种或少有种,群落种类显著减少,资源量下降,群落结构与功能退化,稳定性下降。因此,加强游泳动物资源修复、保护与管理十分迫切且具有重要意义。     

An alternative to Lotka-Volterra competition in coarse-grained environments

Competition in a coarse-grained heterogeneous environment is considered. It is assumed that each individual adjust has position within the macrohabitat so as to try to maximize a utility whose value is a function of position within the habitat and of the population density at that position. Robust qualitative conclusions concerning the resulting population behavior relate niche breadth, niche shift, and resource partitioning to changes in population numbers. In particular populations avoid competition by reducing coarse-grained niche overlap so that overlap is a measure not of the degree of competition but of its absence. Specific models of exploitation or interference competition give specific quantitative results which are summarized. Competition equations are derived from underlying models which imply Lotka-Volterra equations in a fine-grained environment (MacArthur, R., and Levins, R. 1967. Amer. Natur.101, 377–385) but which are nonlinear in per capita growth in a coarse-grained one. The findings are relevant to theoretical studies of competition, limiting similarity, species packing, and the evolution of niche position as well as to practical problems of data analysis and resource management. The extension to predator-prey interactions is outlined.     

Niche Partitioning of Feather Mites within a Seabird Host, Calonectris borealis

According to classic niche theory, species can coexist in heterogeneous environments by reducing interspecific competition via niche partitioning, e.g. trophic or spatial partitioning. However, support for the role of competition on niche partitioning remains controversial. Here, we tested for spatial and trophic partitioning in feather mites, a diverse and abundant group of arthropods. We focused on the two dominant mite species, Microspalax brevipes and Zachvatkinia ovata, inhabiting flight feathers of the Cory’s shearwater, Calonectris borealis. We performed mite counts across and within primary and tail feathers on free-living shearwaters breeding on an oceanic island (Gran Canaria, Canary Islands). We then investigated trophic relationships between the two mite species and the host using stable isotope analyses of carbon and nitrogen on mite tissues and potential host food sources. The distribution of the two mite species showed clear spatial segregation among feathers; M. brevipes showed high preference for the central wing primary feathers, whereas Z. ovata was restricted to the two outermost primaries. Morphological differences between M. brevipes and Z. ovata support an adaptive basis for the spatial segregation of the two mite species. However, the two mites overlap in some central primaries and statistical modeling showed that Z. ovata tends to outcompete M. brevipes. Isotopic analyses indicated similar isotopic values for the two mite species and a strong correlation in carbon signatures between mites inhabiting the same individual host suggesting that diet is mainly based on shared host-associated resources. Among the four candidate tissues examined (blood, feather remains, skin remains and preen gland oil), we conclude that the diet is most likely dominated by preen gland oil, while the contribution of exogenous material to mite diets is less marked. Our results indicate that ongoing competition for space and resources plays a central role in structuring feather mite communities. They also illustrate that symbiotic infracommunities are excellent model systems to study trophic ecology, and can improve our understanding of mechanisms of niche differentiation and species coexistence.     

Trophic niche overlap between sympatric harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) and grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) at the southern limit of their European range (Eastern English Channel)

Sympatric harbour (Phoca vitulina) and grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) are increasingly considered potential competitors, especially since recent local declines in harbour seal numbers while grey seal numbers remained stable or increased at their European core distributions. A better understanding of the interactions between these species is critical for conservation efforts. This study aimed to identify the trophic niche overlap between harbour and grey seals at the southern limit of their European range, in the Baie de Somme (BDS, Eastern English Channel, France), where numbers of resident harbour seals and visiting grey seals are increasing exponentially. Dietary overlap was identified from scat contents using hierarchical clustering. Isotopic niche overlap was quantified using δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N isotopic values from whiskers of 18 individuals, by estimating isotopic standard ellipses with a novel hierarchical model developed in a Bayesian framework to consider both intraindividual variability and interindividual variability. Foraging areas of these individuals were identified from telemetry data. The three independent approaches provided converging results, revealing a high trophic niche overlap due to consumption of benthic flatfish. Two diet clusters were dominated by either small or large benthic flatfish; these comprised 85.5% [CI95%: 80.3%–90.2%] of harbour seal scats and 46.8% [35.1%–58.4%] of grey seal scats. The narrower isotopic niche of harbour seals was nested within that of grey seals (58.2% [22.7%–100%] overlap). Grey seals with isotopic values similar to harbour seals foraged in coastal waters close to the BDS alike harbour seals did, suggesting the niche overlap may be due to individual grey seal strategies. Our findings therefore provide the basis for potential competition between both species (foraging on benthic flatfish close to the BDS). We suggest that a continued increase in seal numbers and/or a decrease in flatfish supply in this area could cause/amplify competitive interactions and have deleterious effects on harbour seal colonies.