Determinants of resource use in lizard assemblages from the semiarid Caatinga,Brazil

Nonsessile animals could partition the use of resources in different axes, reducing the effects of competition and allowing coexistence. Here, we investigated the spatial and trophic niche dimensions in four lizard assemblages in the Neotropical semiarid Caatinga to investigate the determinants of resource use and the extent to which lizards partition their niches. We sampled each lizard assemblage once, for 10 days, in the dry season of 2017 and 2018. In two lizard assemblages, we detected nonrandom niche overlap patterns that were higher or lower than expected by chance. The high niche overlap patterns suggest that either there is intense current competition for available microhabitats or an abundance of microhabitats. The lower niche overlap may be influenced by the presence of species adapted to sandy habitats (psammophilous), suggesting that spatial partitioning detected has historical basis, which is supported by the pPCA results and by the lack of patterns in the realized niche distribution of species across niche space. We detected trophic niche partitioning in three lizard assemblages. In one assemblage, we discovered random spatial and trophic niche overlap patterns, revealing that competition is not a determining factor in the structure of that assemblage. In fact, phylogenetic effects were predominantly the main determinants of resource use in the four studied lizard assemblages. Arid and semiarid habitats cover about one third of land surface of the world. Comparisons between our findings and those from other regions of the world may aid identify general trends in the lizard ecology of dry environments.     

同域分布的野猪与狍活动节律及与月光周期的关系

完全的竞争者不能共存,物种间生态位分化是同域物种长期稳定共存的基础。不同物种在同一分布区时间生态位的分化对其共存至关重要。为研究同域分布物种的共存机制,在2018年11月到2021年7月利用远红外相机监测技术对穆棱东北红豆杉国家级自然保护区同域分布的野猪(Sus scrofa)和狍(Capreolus pygargus)进行了野外监测研究,并利用核密度估计方法和雅各布斯选择指数(JSI)对日活动节律和一段时间内的活动周期选择进行了评估,同时还利用非参数检验评估了2个物种的活动与月光周期的关系。研究结果表明,狍不管在全年还是在不同的季节,日活动节律均为双峰模式,而野猪的活动模式表现出明显的可塑性,在全年和冷季为单峰型,暖季为双峰型,二者在日活动节律上的重叠程度较高(Dhat>0.59),在暖季的重叠系数最高(Dhat=0.65)。此外,在时间段的选择上,狍在全年和冷季更喜欢在黎明和黄昏活动(0.170.32),而野猪活动在全年和冷季对白天和黄昏的选择更多(JSI>0.3),暖季则更喜欢在白天活动(J...     

长江源区同域分布兔狲、藏狐和赤狐的时空重叠度

兔狲(Otocolobus manul)、藏狐(Vulpes ferrilata)和赤狐(V. vulpes)是青藏高原三江源区域分布的重要小型食肉兽。本研究于2014年6月至2019年9月在青海省长江源区沱沱河和通天河沿岸选取208个位点布设红外相机, 通过所获取的时空分布数据比较了上述3种同域分布小型食肉兽的时空利用情况。通过空间重叠度系数的比较分析, 兔狲和藏狐、兔狲和赤狐以及藏狐和赤狐之间的空间重叠度系数分别为0.25、0.48和0.17, 这表明兔狲、藏狐和赤狐三者在空间利用上存在一定的差异。通过核密度估计方法分析, 兔狲和藏狐属典型的昼行性动物, 而赤狐以夜行性活动为主。兔狲、藏狐和赤狐每个物种在冷暖两季的日活动节律重叠指数分别为0.83、0.78和0.88。两两比较分析表明, 兔狲和藏狐二者的日活动节律重叠指数最高(0.84), 兔狲和赤狐在夜间活动时段存在一定重叠(0.63), 而藏狐和赤狐的时间生态位分化最明显, 重叠指数最低(0.48)。此外, 在暖季, 两两物种之间的日活动节律重叠指数均小于其冷季的重叠指数。综上所述, 长江源区兔狲、藏狐和赤狐3种小型食肉兽可通过空间和时间资源的利用差异来降低物种间的干扰和竞争, 从而达到同域物种共存的目的。     

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.     

Resource partitioning between sympatric wild and domestic herbivores in the Tarangire region of Tanzania

The effect of the introduction of an exotic species (cattle) into a native African herbivore assemblage was investigated by studying resource partitioning between zebu cattle, wildebeest and zebra. Resource partitioning was investigated by analysing grass sward characteristics (such as sward height and percentage nitrogen in leaves) of feeding sites selected by the different herbivore species. Linear discriminant analysis was used to determine whether a distinction could be made between feeding sites selected by the different animal species or whether the animal species showed overlap in resource use by selecting similar feeding sites. Wildebeest and zebra did not show overlap in resource use except in the wet season when resources were ample. Cattle showed overlap in resource use with zebra in the early wet season and with wildebeest in the early dry season, seasons when food limitation is likely. In the wet season, cattle showed overlap in resource use with both zebra and wildebeest. Implications of these results for competitive relationships between livestock and wildlife are discussed. We suggest that interpretation of overlap in resource use may be different for an assemblage of long-term coexisting native species as compared to an assemblage of native and exotic species. Among native herbivores, overlap in resource use is not expected based on evolutionary segregation. In a native assemblage to which an exotic species has been introduced, however, overlap in resource use can occur under food-limited conditions and consequently implies competition. Received: 1 September 1998 / Accepted: 20 April 1999     

深圳湾红树林引种海桑、无瓣海桑的生态评价

对深圳湾红树林引种的外来种海桑(Sonneratia caseolaris (L．) Engl．)和无瓣海桑(S．apetala B．Ham．)的生态适应性、扩散现状及生态入侵的可能性进行了研究。结果表明：海桑和无瓣海桑对深圳湾的气温、盐度、潮滩与土壤等基本适应,虽然极端低温是其生长定居的限制因子,但其子代的抗寒性逐渐增强,在局部区域有一定的繁殖力和扩散力,生态效益明显。从种群生物生态学特性、生态位理论、群落更新理论等方面分析认为,海桑和无瓣海桑在深圳湾造成生态入侵的可能性不大。     

漓江河岸带枫杨群落主要木本植物种群生态位

为了解漓江河岸带枫杨群落主要木本植物种群的生态位特征,在对其进行群落调查的基础上,利用Levins和Shannon生态位宽度、Schoener生态位相似性和Pianka生态位重叠指数对漓江河岸带枫杨群落乔木层、灌木层主要种群生态位进行定量分析.结果表明: 乔木层的枫杨、灌木层的石榕树和桑的生态位宽度较大;重要值较大的物种,其生态位宽度一般较大,但两者排名顺序并不完全一致.乔木层主要种群生态位相似性普遍小于灌木层,平均值分别为0.151和0.236,主要种群间的生态位相似性较小,各种群对资源利用的相似程度不高;乔木层主要种群生态位重叠普遍小于灌木层,它们的平均值分别为0.217和0.273,主要种群间的生态位重叠程度较低;生态位宽度与生态位相似性之间无显著相关关系,生态位宽度大的物种与其他物种发生重叠的概率更大,但生态位重叠值不一定大,生态位相似性大的物种,其生态位重叠值一般较大.漓江河岸带枫杨群落属于地带性顶极群落,种间关系相对稳定,种群更新缓慢,在发展中有衰退趋势.     

深圳湾红树林引种海桑、无瓣海桑的生态评价

对深圳湾红树林引种的外来种海桑(Sonneratia caseolaris (L.) Engl.)和无瓣海桑(S. apetala B. Ham.)的生态适应性、扩散现状及生态入侵的可能性进行了研究.结果表明:海桑和无瓣海桑对深圳湾的气温、盐度、潮滩与土壤等基本适应,虽然极端低温是其生长定居的限制因子,但其子代的抗寒性逐渐增强,在局部区域有一定的繁殖力和扩散力,生态效益明显.从种群生物生态学特性、生态位理论、群落更新理论等方面分析认为,海桑和无瓣海桑在深圳湾造成生态入侵的可能性不大.     

Maturity and fecundity of golden grey mullet (Liza aurata Risso, 1810) in Iranian waters of the Caspian Sea

The objective of the study was to determine some reproductive parameters in the golden grey mullet (Liza aurata Risso, 1810) during two periods half a decade apart while also trying from limited data to identify changes in fecundity over the past half century. Maturity and fecundity of golden grey mullet caught in Iranian waters of the Caspian Sea is not well documented and were thus studied during several seasonal cycles during 2002–2004 to establish basic data on reproduction in the area. The fork length (FL) of 462 sampled fish was between 22.1 and 51.9 cm. The fork length–weight relationship derived from all fish was W = 0.0118FL^2.964. Overall male to female ratio was 1 : 1.42. The reproductive season extended from October to December. Fifty percent of sexual maturity was at FL 26.0 cm. Mature gonads were present in 20% of fish at age 3, 63% at age 4, 88% at age 5, and 97% at age 6. Individual absolute fecundity of the golden grey mullet ranged from 113 386 to 1.47 million eggs, with a mean (±SD) of 451 963 (±274,114.2). An overlap exists between the spawning and fishing seasons. Therefore, the start of the fishing season should be delayed for 1 month in order for stocks to complete their spawning.     

Intra-annual variations in abundance and species composition of carabid beetles in a temperate forest in Northeast China

In most habitats in temperate zones, species show clear intra-annual shifts in abundance and species composition. Here we aimed to present a comprehensive picture of community composition and seasonal dynamics of carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in broad-leaved Korean pine mixed forest in Northeast China, which harbors a large diversity. We sampled 23,336 individuals from 14 genera and 39 species with pitfall traps over more than 1 year in a 25-ha plot. The six most abundant species accounted for 76.65 % of all individuals. Species estimations for the 25 ha plot ranged from 40 to 45 species. Overall abundance, species diversity, community composition, and abundance of individual species varied seasonally. Most of the abundant species showed an activity pattern of single peak, and were most active between July and early September. Few species showed a bimodal seasonal activity pattern. Both temperature and precipitation significantly influenced the carabid community within a year. Hierarchical clustering indicated that carabid communities of ten consecutive sampling periods could be partitioned into three time-windows, respectively, corresponding with warm temperature-high rainfall season, warm temperature-low rainfall season, and cool and cold season. By using the extended method of indicator species analysis, 11 indicator species were identified for the three time-groups and their combinations, suggesting the existence of temporal niche partitioning among carabid species. We suggest that intra-annual patterns of carabid abundance and species composition can be explained by species responses to seasonal changes in hydrothermal conditions. Cost-effective sampling effort to assess native carabid diversity and assemblage was also discussed in this study.     

Environmental Niche Overlap between Common and Dusky Dolphins in North Patagonia,Argentina

Research on the ecology of sympatric dolphins has increased worldwide in recent decades. However, many dolphin associations such as that between common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) and dusky dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obscurus) are poorly understood. The present study was conducted in the San Matías Gulf (SMG) ecosystem (North Patagonia, Argentina) where a high diet overlap among both species was found. The main objective of the present work was to explore the niche overlap of common and dusky dolphins in the habitat and temporal dimensions. The specific aims were (a) to evaluate the habitat use strategies of both species through a comparison of their group attributes (social composition, size and activity), and (b) to evaluate their habitat preferences and habitat overlap through Environmental Niche modeling considering two oceanographic seasons. To accomplish these aims, we used a historic database of opportunistic and systematic records collected from 1983 to 2011. Common and dusky dolphins exhibited similar patterns of group size (from less than 10 to more than 100 individuals), activity (both species use the area to feed, nurse, and copulate), and composition (adults, juveniles, and mothers with calves were observed for both species). Also, both species were observed travelling and feeding in mixed-species groups. Specific overlap indices were higher for common dolphins than for dusky dolphins, but all indices were low, suggesting that they are mainly segregated in the habitat dimension. In the case of common dolphins, the best habitats were located in the northwest of the gulf far from the coast. In the warm season they prefer areas with temperate sea surface and in the cold season they prefer areas with relatively high variability of sea surface temperature. Meanwhile, dusky dolphins prefer areas with steep slopes close to the coast in the southwestern sector of the gulf in both seasons.     

Niche separation between colonizing and indigenous goatfish (Mullidae) along the Mediterranean coast of Israel

The present study assesses the resource partitioning between two Red Sea colonizers, the goldband goatfish Upeneus moluccensis and the brownband goatfish U. pori , and the two indigenous Mediterranean goatfishes, the red mullet Mullus barbatus and the striped mullet M. surmuletus , along the Mediterranean coast of Israel.
Niche separation was studied along three axes: habitat selection, feeding habits and spawning season. Habitat selection is the most significant parameter separating the species. The two colonizing species occupy a shallow habitat, U. pori dominating the primarily sandy bottom at 20–30 m and U. moluccensis at 40–50 m, at which depth the sea bottom becomes increasingly silty. Of the two indigenous species, M. barbatus is dominant in depths below 55 m, while M. surmuletus appears at low abundance in all depths.
Niche separation by feeding habits is much less evident. All four species feed primarily on macrurid crustaceans and thus the values of diet overlap are rather high (0·666≤ T ≤0·928). Prey size is not an important factor in niche separation. Young fishes (S.L>,115 mm) of all four species feed upon prey of similar size (20–160 mg). Among older individuals (S.L.>115 mm) three species continue to feed upon the same size prey, while U. moluccensis feeds upon considerably larger prey (600–2200 mg).
The difference between the spawning seasons of the colonizing vs indigenous species and consequent timing of benthic settling may contribute to niche separation.
The results of this study suggest that success in colonization by Red Sea goatfish may be due to the existence of unexploited niches in the eastern Mediterranean ecosystem.     

北坞园林绿地捕食性瓢虫发生规律及生态位的研究

为有效保护和利用园林绿地中的捕食性瓢虫资源,研究了北京园林绿地中瓢虫的发生规律及生态位。采用定点定期黄板诱集法调查园林绿地捕食性瓢虫资源,然后进行了瓢虫发生时序动态、生态位宽度及生态位重叠等分析。由生态位宽度将瓢虫分为种群竞争力强、中和弱3类,由Mcnaughton优势度指数也将瓢虫分为优势种、常见种和偶见种3类;异色瓢虫、龟纹瓢虫、红点唇瓢虫和菱斑巧瓢虫既是种群竞争力强的瓢虫种类,也是园林绿地瓢虫的优势种,种群竞争力中的瓢虫种类多为瓢虫常见种,弱的种类多为瓢虫偶见种;园林绿地中优势捕食性瓢虫的发生时序动态既与园林植物上发生的蚜虫种类相关,又与园林植物种类相关;异色瓢虫与龟纹瓢虫,异色瓢虫与红点唇瓢虫,以及龟纹瓢虫与菱斑巧瓢虫全年的生态位重叠指数较高,均达0.8以上,而异色瓢虫与菱斑巧瓢虫,龟纹瓢虫与红点唇瓢虫,红点唇瓢虫与菱斑巧瓢虫全年的生态位重叠指数较小,均低于0.7。本文为有效保护园林绿地中的瓢虫资源提供了技术支撑。     

Macro-Climatic Distribution Limits Show Both Niche Expansion and Niche Specialization among C4 Panicoids

Grasses are ancestrally tropical understory species whose current dominance in warm open habitats is linked to the evolution of C₄ photosynthesis. C₄ grasses maintain high rates of photosynthesis in warm and water stressed environments, and the syndrome is considered to induce niche shifts into these habitats while adaptation to cold ones may be compromised. Global biogeographic analyses of C₄ grasses have, however, concentrated on diversity patterns, while paying little attention to distributional limits. Using phylogenetic contrast analyses, we compared macro-climatic distribution limits among ~1300 grasses from the subfamily Panicoideae, which includes 4/5 of the known photosynthetic transitions in grasses. We explored whether evolution of C₄ photosynthesis correlates with niche expansions, niche changes, or stasis at subfamily level and within the two tribes Paniceae and Paspaleae. We compared the climatic extremes of growing season temperatures, aridity, and mean temperatures of the coldest months. We found support for all the known biogeographic distribution patterns of C₄ species, these patterns were, however, formed both by niche expansion and niche changes. The only ubiquitous response to a change in the photosynthetic pathway within Panicoideae was a niche expansion of the C₄ species into regions with higher growing season temperatures, but without a withdrawal from the inherited climate niche. Other patterns varied among the tribes, as macro-climatic niche evolution in the American tribe Paspaleae differed from the pattern supported in the globally distributed tribe Paniceae and at family level.     

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.     

Diversity and Abundance of Litter Frogs in a Montane Forest of Southeastern Brazil: Seasonal and Altitudinal Changes1

We sampled litter frogs in an 1800-ha mid-elevation seasonal forest in southeastern Brazil. One hundred 8 * 8-m plots were sampled during the dry/cold season and wet/warm season (unburned areas); we also examined the effects of fire in recently burned areas. A total of 267 frogs (305 g), belonging to 16 species (4 families) were caught. A single species comprised 78.5 percent of the individuals in the dry/cold season and 54.3 percent in the wet/warm season. The density of individuals did not change significantly with season, biomass did. Density and biomass of frogs were positively correlated with altitude. A Mantel test indicated that biological data (species and their abundance) were significantly associated with environmental parameters. The burned areas showed low values in richness, density and biomass of frogs. Harsh seasonal climate and a history of human disturbance may produce the low observed diversity values. The greater densities of frogs in sites of higher elevation may primarily result from mist-generated humidity, which diminishes the harshness of the dry/cold season in relation to lower sites.     

Resource partitioning and interspecific interactions among sympatric rain forest arboreal mammals of the Western Ghats, India

Resource partitioning in a community of diurnal arboreal mammalsconsisting of the lion-tailed macaque Macaca silenus, bonnetmacaque (BM) Macaca radiata, Nilgiri langur Semnopithecus johnii,and the Indian giant squirrel Ratufa indica of the Western Ghats,southern India, was studied. Differences in their diet, verticalstratification, food resource niche breadth, niche overlap,and behavioral interactions were examined. Resource partitioningwas through differential habitat use, resource use, and verticalstratification. Of the four species, the BM was not a residentspecies and made frequent forays into evergreen forest fromthe adjacent deciduous forest during the flowering season ofCullenia exarillata and fruiting season of Ficus microcarpa.The macaques had narrower niches, and the langur and the squirrelhad wider niches. Niche overlap was highest between the twomacaques. Overlap among the study species was particularly pronouncedduring the flowering of C. exarillata. There was significantcorrelation between niche overlap and intolerance among thestudy species. Certain species pairs showed little or no mutualintolerance despite high overlap. Cooperative interactions suchas alarm calls occurred more frequently among the resident species.Interaction matrices revealed an underlying pattern of interspecificdominance hierarchy, with the BM dominating over the other threespecies. Our study suggests that the BM do not coexist withthe other three because of high overlap with its congener andlow occurrence of cooperative interactions.     

普陀山主要植物种生态位特征

利用样地调查方法,以物种重要值作为资源状态指标,应用Levins生态位宽度公式和Levins生态位重叠公式对普陀山主要植物种进行了生态位宽度和生态位重叠计算。结果表明:普陀山主要植物群落中,青冈(Cyclobalanopsis glauca)、茶(Camellia sinensis)、薹草(Carex tristachya)的生态位宽度分别在乔、灌、草本层中占有优势地位;而且,各层植物种之间有着不同程度的重叠,表现为草本层>乔木层>灌木层;总体上,各植物种的生态位重叠较小,生态位分化明显,资源利用方式分化较大;分布频度是影响植物种生态位宽度、生态位重叠大小的主要因素之一,分布频度越大,则生态位宽度越大,与其他植物种形成生态位重叠的机率也越大。     

红树林区软体动物生态位的三种分析方法

利用广东湛江红树林保护区定量取样获取的软体动物密度数据,根据Shannon-Wiener和Pj．anka公式,分别选用潮带和季节（方法1）、红树植物群落和季节（方法2）、红树植物群落和潮带（方法3）3种不同环境因子组合确定环境资源位点数,从而计算研究区软体动物生态位宽度和物种间重叠值。结果表明,3种分析方法计算结果有差别,采用方法1、方法2和方法3计算的物种生态位宽度分别为0～1．96、0～2．16、0～1．64;生态位重叠指数为0～0．1的种对,方法1、方法2和方法3分别占25．1％、32．8％和21．6％,生态位重叠指数为0．1～0．5的种对,分别占31．6％、36．2％和22．3％,生态位重叠指数〉0．5的种对分别占43．396、3196和56．1％。可见,方法3计算出的生态位重叠指数比其它2种方法的大。物种聚类和排序也验证了3种分析方法的计算结果有差别。将计算结果与实际定量取样比较,表明以红树植物群落和季节为准确定环境资源位点数的分析方法与实际相符,适合红树林区软体动物的生态位研究。