渤海水母类生态的初步研究——种类组成、数量分布与季节变化

水母类是海洋生态系统中非常重要的一个类群。根据１９５９年以来在渤海进行的几次较为全面的调查资料,对渤海水母类的种类组成、数量分布与季节变化作了较为详细的研究。共记录到水母类４１种,其中水螅水母３５种,钵水母４种,栉水母２种。主要以近岸低盐类型为主,高盐种类少并且出现时间短。渤海水母类密度季节变化有３个高峰,出现在冬季,夏季和秋季,分别出八斑黄氏水母,酒杯水母属、和平水母属、五角水母构成。渤海水线类     

渤海水母类生态的初步研究——种类组成、数量分布与季节变化

水母类是海洋生态系统中非常重要的一个类群。根据 1 959年以来在渤海进行的几次较为全面的调查资料 ,对渤海水母类的种类组成、数量分布与季节变化作了较为详细的研究。共记录到水母类 4 1种 ,其中水螅水母 35种 ,钵水母 4种 ,栉水母 2种。主要以近岸低盐类型为主 ,高盐种类少并且出现时间短。渤海水母类密度的季节变化有 3个高峰 ,出现在冬季 ,夏季和秋季 ,分别由八斑芮氏水母、酒杯水母属、和平水母属、五角水母构成。渤海水母类的分布具有一定的季节特点 ,冬季和夏季以莱州湾密度最高 ,春季为渤海湾最高 ,秋季为中央海区最高。辽东湾水母类的密度在各个季节都不算高     

宁波港典型海域浮游动物种类组成及数量分布特点

根据2009年秋～2010年夏每季采样调查,分析和研究了浙江省宁波港海区浮游动物种类组成和数量分布的四季变化特征。结果表明: 经鉴定浮游动物共有70种,隶属3门35属。其中桡足类的种类最多,占总种数的73.54%; 优势种主要有中华异水蚤、矩形龟甲轮虫、伪长腹剑水蚤、挪威小星猛水蚤、小星猛水蚤属、驼背隆哲水蚤、短角长腹剑水蚤等。浮游动物群体丰度呈现出夏季>秋季>春季>冬季的现象,四季平均丰度分别为2.50×10³ ind/m³、40.16×10³ ind/m³、3.72×10³ ind/m³、1.20×10³ ind /m³。生物量呈现出夏季>春季>秋季>冬季的现象,四季平均生物量分别为88.94 mg/m³、931.22 mg/m³、58.74 mg/m³、24.49 mg/m³。与历史资料以及邻近海域比较发现,浮游动物丰度和生物量小于或接近于东海各海域。生物多样性分析显示,夏季与春秋冬三季生物多样性(H')有显著性差异(P<0.05),夏季具有较高的生物多样性,Shannon-Wiener多样性指数(H')、种类丰富度(D)、Pielou均匀度指数(J)、最大多样性指数(H'max)基本呈现出夏季>春季>秋季>冬季。与邻近海域相比,多样性指数(H')、种类丰富度(D)、最大多样性指数(H'max)呈下降趋势。     

黄、东海生态系统中鱼卵、仔稚幼鱼种类组成与数量分布

2000年秋季和2001年春季“北斗号”生物资源调查船利用大型浮游生物网采用表层水平拖网的调查方式对黄、东海鱼卵、仔稚幼鱼种类组成与数量分布进行了调查。秋季和春季分别设置66个(黄海26个,东海40个)和98个(黄海46个,东海52个)调查站。每站拖网10min,拖网速度为3.0nmile/h。调查结果表明:秋季和春季所采集到的鱼卵和仔稚幼鱼样品共62种以及鳗鲡目和飞鱼类两大类,鉴定到种的44种,隶属于9目33科40属;还有10种仅能鉴定到属,6种和飞鱼类仅能鉴定到科,1种和鳗鲡目一大类仅能鉴定到目以及1种不能识别。优势种为、鲐、带鱼、棱、黑鳃梅童鱼、绿鳍鱼以及多鳞、鼠、大泷六线鱼、细纹狮子鱼等。2000年秋季,从黄海和东海分别采集到16粒鱼卵、107尾仔稚幼鱼和495粒鱼卵、116尾仔稚幼鱼。鱼卵、仔稚幼鱼的出现频率分别为26.92%、38.46%和65.00%、40.46%,平均密度分别为0.6粒/站、3.6尾/站和12.4粒/站、2.8尾/站。2001年春季,从黄海和东海分别采集到3粒鱼卵、61尾稚幼鱼和17587粒鱼卵和1560尾仔稚幼鱼,鱼卵、仔稚幼鱼的出现频率分别为2.17%、39.13%和57.69%、48.08%,平均密度仅分别为0.07粒/站、1.3尾/站和338.2粒/站、30.0尾/站。秋季,黄海区的硬骨鱼类进入产卵末期,而东海区才刚刚进入产卵末期。春季,黄海区的硬骨鱼类刚刚进入产卵初期,而东海区已进入产卵盛期。此外,对秋季和春季鱼卵和仔稚幼鱼的数量分布以及鼠、、棱、多鳞、少鳞、黑鳃梅童鱼、小黄鱼、鲐、带鱼、绿鳍鱼、大泷六线鱼和细纹狮子鱼等优势种类的鱼卵和仔稚幼鱼数量分布进行了详尽的描述。2000年和2001年黄海区鱼卵、仔稚幼鱼的种类组成与1985年和1986年发生了明显的变化,这与黄海区渔业资源和鱼类群落结构的变化是相符合的。从而说明人类的长期捕捞活动对海洋生态系统中鱼类资源的种群交替和鱼类群落结构的变化产生了较大的影响     

云南蛭类的种类分布和区系组成初探

蛭类动物俗称蚂蟥 ,在分类上属于环节动物门Ａｎｎｅｌｉ ｄａ、蛭纲Ｈｉｒｕｄｉｎｅａ、真蛭亚纲Ｅｕｈｉｒｕｄｉｎｅａ。全世界现已知30 0余种 ,中国共有 2目、 8科、 33属、 77种。通过近 10年的调查 ,并结合前人的研究 ,现已初步查明云南有蛭类2 4种 ,分属于 2目、 7科、 14属 ,其中包括 4个新纪录 ,占中国蛭类的 31 17%。据此 ,本文还探讨了云南蛭类的区系组成特征 ,为进一步研究云南蛭类提供资料。1　云南蛭类的种类和分布云南现已知蛭类共 2 4种 ,隶属 2目、 7科、 14属 ,各种的分布和主要特点如下。①多突舌蛭Ｇｌｏｓｓｉｐｈｏ…     

舟山近岸海域春秋季鱼类种类组成及其数量时空分布

根据2015 年11 月(秋季)、2016 年5 月(春季)在舟山近岸海域开展的渔业资源调查中所获得的鱼类资源资料, 对该海域鱼类的种类组成、数量分布、优势种变化及其影响因素等进行了研究。结果如下: 根据本次调查所获得的样品, 经分析共鉴定出鱼类种类81 种, 隶属于12 目39 科63 属; 春季和秋季鱼类重量密度分别为10.36 kg·km^-2 和98.01 kg·km^-2, 尾数密度分别为26.29×10³ ind·km^-2和33.30 ind·km^-2; 两个季节鱼类资源密度的平面分布特征呈相同规律, 都是东部外侧海域高于122.3°E 以西海域; 不同季节优势种种类不同, 春季的优势种为六丝钝尾虾虎鱼, 秋季优势种为龙头鱼, 均为小型低值鱼类; 鱼类春季和秋季总种类数变化较为稳定, 但种类数的季节变化较大, 春季以沿岸浅海附近种类较多, 秋季以调查海域东北部较多; 水深对鱼类资源密度及种类数分布影响明显; ABC 曲线显示, 舟山近岸海域的鱼类群落处于严重干扰的状态。与以往调查结果相比,舟山渔场鱼类种类组成、群落结构等都发生了较大的变化。     

浙南岛屿岩相潮间带石鳖的种类组成与数量分布

研究了浙南岛屿岩相潮间带石鳖的种类组成与数量分布规律。结果表明,石鳖的水平分布与盐度、海岩开敞度有关;垂直分布与浪击度、潮汐和食物有关;季节变化与温度、繁殖和干扰有关;空间异质性对石鳖的分布具有一定的影响。     

广西元宝山自然保护区蝴蝶种类组成及垂直分布

2001年8月调查表明,目前广西元宝山自然保护区已知有蝴蝶122种,隶属于11科,23亚科,85属;有4种珍稀保护种类,发现了中国新纪录种——何华灰蝶。该保护区的蝴蝶呈现明显的垂直分布规律,从下往上划分为3个垂直分布带：人工林与常绿阔叶林带、亚热带山地常绿阔叶林带、亚热带中山山地常绿落叶阔叶混交林和针阔叶混交林带。     

三亚珊瑚礁水域纤毛虫种类组成和数量分布及与环境因子的关系

2004年8月通过对三亚珊瑚礁水域纤毛虫进行表、底层采集分析,共鉴定6纲14目33属58种浮游纤毛虫,其中旋毛纲41种,叶口纲6种,寡膜纲5种,叶咽纲4种,前口纲和伪纤毛纲各1种。在14个目中,以旋毛纲环毛亚纲砂壳目纤毛虫种类最多,达到31种。主要优势种为布氏拟铃虫 Tintinnopsis bütschlii、小拟铃虫 Tintinnopsis minuta、丁丁急游虫Strombidium tintinnodes和具沟急游虫Strombidium sulcatum等,底层纤毛虫数量和种类都较表层高,底、表层平均丰度分别为375个/L和346 个/L,表、底层纤毛虫种类差异明显,表层主要由浮游纤毛虫组成,以旋毛纲环毛亚纲砂壳目纤毛虫为主,急游目纤毛虫次之;而底层主要由缘毛目组成,如长圆靴纤虫 Cothurnia oblonga、透明鞘居虫Vaginicola crystalline、钟虫Vorticella sp.以及吸管目的壳吸管虫 Acineta sp. 等。结果显示,在活珊瑚覆盖率高的站位（S4,S7和S9）纤毛虫数量明显低于珊瑚覆盖率低或没有珊瑚覆盖的站位,这暗示了珊瑚对纤毛虫的摄食作用。典型对应分析结果表明,影响三亚湾海域纤毛虫分布的主要因素有Chla、颗粒悬浮物SS和活性磷,以及水体溶解有机碳含量。通过对纤毛虫数量与环境因子关系的分析表明,三亚湾珊瑚礁水域纤毛虫的数量与叶绿素呈明显的正相关性。     

北部湾北部水母类群集结构与数量分布

根据\"908\"专项北部湾2006—2007年四个季节的调查数据,分析了北部湾北部(20°N以北海域)水母类的种类组成、数量分布、优势种和群集结构特征及其环境影响因子。该区共记录水母类4类125种,分别为水螅水母类99种、管水母类17种、钵水母类4种和栉水母5种;以沿岸暖水种为主,占本区水母总种数的61.6%,其次是大洋暖水种,占37.6%,沿岸暖温种仅占0.8%。种数季节变化呈单峰型,夏季83种,冬季56种,秋季和春季各49种,四季均以水螅水母类为主。周年丰度变化呈单峰型,夏季(943.0个/m3)春季(572.4个/m3)冬季(548.2个/m3)秋季(427.6个/m3)。拟细浅室水母、双生水母、球型侧腕水母、四叶小舌水母、半口壮丽水母、两手筐水母、异摇篮水母、双小水母、单囊美螅水母、疣真囊水母、半球美螅水母、六幅和平水母、八囊摇篮水母、刺胞真囊水母、黑球真唇水母、端粗范式水母和细颈和平水母共17种全年出现,为四季种;其中,前7种为四季优势种,优势度(Y)分别为0.25、0.19、0.09、0.08、0.05、0.03和0.03,各季节的优势种演替模式不尽相同。依据水母种类和数量分布情况,北部湾北部水母类可划分2个群集:栖息在受沿岸流影响的20 m以浅的低盐群集,代表种有拟细浅室水母和双生水母等;栖息在受外海水影响的20 m以深的高盐群集,代表种有四叶小舌水母、半口壮丽水母和两手筐水母等。海流与水团的消长是影响水母类群集结构和水平分布格局的重要影响因素。     

泸沽湖及其附近竹地海湿地越冬水鸟群落组成及历史变化分析

泸沽湖是中国西南重要的水鸟越冬地和旅游风景区,开展泸沽湖越冬水鸟群落组成现状调查并进行历史变化分析,对指导泸沽湖水鸟及其栖息地保护和管理具有重要意义。2013年10月至2014年2月(12月除外),逐月对泸沽湖全湖及其西北方向的竹地海湿地(距离泸沽湖约500 m,面积约0.4 km2)越冬水鸟进行调查。泸沽湖共记录到水鸟27种,观察的最大个体总数约为22 600只,符合国际重要湿地标准。泸沽湖越冬水鸟群落的主要优势物种为骨顶鸡(Fulica atra),其最大观察数约为10 300只。竹地海湿地共记录到水鸟16种,观察到的最大个体总数约为3 600只,其中赤麻鸭(Tadorna ferruginea)约为2 700只;鉴于竹地海湿地亦为水鸟聚集的栖息地,建议将其划入泸沽湖自然保护区加以保护。对比1992年的调查数据,发现泸沽湖及其附近竹地海湿地越冬水鸟的物种丰富度(species richness)可能有所下降,由原来的33种下降到现在的30种,但个体总数量相对稳定。多种涉禽和喜浅水活动的钻水鸭类(dabbling ducks)消失,可能与湖岸区旅游活动的持续进行有关;泸沽湖曾经的主要优势物种赤嘴潜鸭(Netta rufina)种群数量大幅下降,暗示泸沽湖生态系统可能已发生变化。泸沽湖旅游业进一步发展的同时,保护好现存的浅水栖息地将是泸沽湖水鸟多样性不再继续下降的关键。     

珠江口浮游桡足类的生态研究

根据2002～2003年珠江口12个航次的调查资料,分析了浮游桡足类种类组成、优势种演替和丰度的时空变化,探讨其影响因素。以表层盐度(S)变化将调查海域划分三个区域:I区(S<25)、Ⅱ区(2530)。结果表明:调查海域共出现桡足类65种,Ⅱ区和Ⅲ区的种类多于I区;桡足类的平均丰度为118ind·m^-3,三个区域之间的比较为Ⅱ区(165ind·m^-3)>I区(129ind·m^-3)>Ⅲ区(62ind·m^-3),春、夏季的丰度高于冬季;优势种有明显的时间和区域上的变化。I区9个航次的研究结果表明:I区桡足类种类较少;各月份之间的平均丰度差别大,由河口内往外呈增加趋势。盐度是影响珠江口桡足类种类组成和数量变化的主要因素。     

Can community composition be predicted from pairwise species interactions?

Plant communities are often structured by interactions among species, such as competition or facilitation. If competition is an important factor that controls the presence and absence of species within intact communities, then a competitive hierarchy, a ranked order from competitive dominant to competitive subordinate, should predict the composition of intact communities. We tested whether a competitive hierarchy derived from pairwise comparisons accurately predicts species abundances within a constructed polyculture community consisting of seven species common to old-field plant communities. We first conducted a pot experiment in field conditions wherein we grew the species in all possible combinations, then created a competitive hierarchy derived from both competitive effect and competitive response for each species. Concurrently, at the same site in native field soil, we constructed polycultures consisting of the same seven species and calculated an abundance hierarchy based on foliar cover, biomass, and an index of species performance. The competitive hierarchy was not concordant with the abundance hierarchy, indicating that simple pairwise comparisons may not account for other factors that influence the abundance of species within relatively complex communities.     

洪泽湖冬春季鱼塘生境中鹬类群落特征与栖息模式

2005年冬季和2006年春季及冬季对洪泽湖东部湿地自然保护区内淮河入洪泽湖河口处(33°06′~33°07′N,118°29′~118°30′E)人工鱼塘生境中鹬类群落进行了研究。设置了4个样地,总面积157hm2。共记录到鹬类19种,其中冬季10种,春季15种。从数量上看,冬季鱼塘中的鸟类总数量远大于春季。在冬春季滞留期间,鹬类种群数量变动比较剧烈,反映了其迁徙集中的特点。鹬类主要在鱼塘生境中休息和觅食,对鱼塘内泥滩和浅水区小生境利用率最高。洪泽湖地区的鱼塘生境和渔业方式使鱼塘成为鹬类冬、春季的重要栖息地。     

Seasonal and interannual variability in the taxonomic composition and production dynamics of phytoplankton assemblages in Crater Lake,Oregon

Taxonomic composition and production dynamics of phytoplankton assemblages in Crater Lake, Oregon, were examined during time periods between 1984 and 2000. The objectives of the study were (1) to investigate spatial and temporal patterns in species composition, chlorophyll concentration, and primary productivity relative to seasonal patterns of water circulation; (2) to explore relationships between water column chemistry and the taxonomic composition of the phytoplankton; and (3) to determine effects of primary and secondary consumers on the phytoplankton assemblage. An analysis of 690 samples obtained on 50 sampling dates from 14 depths in the water column found a total of 163 phytoplankton taxa, 134 of which were identified to genus and 101 were identified to the species or variety level of classification. Dominant species by density or biovolume included Nitzschia gracilis, Stephanodiscus hantzschii, Ankistrodesmus spiralis, Mougeotia parvula, Dinobryon sertularia, Tribonema affine, Aphanocapsa delicatissima, Synechocystis sp., Gymnodinium inversum, and Peridinium inconspicuum. When the lake was thermally stratified in late summer, some of these species exhibited a stratified vertical distribution in the water column. A cluster analysis of these data also revealed a vertical stratification of the flora from the middle of the summer through the early fall. Multivariate test statistics indicated that there was a significant relationship between the species composition of the phytoplankton and a corresponding set of chemical variables measured for samples from the water column. In this case, concentrations of total phosphorus, ammonia, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, and alkalinity were associated with interannual changes in the flora; whereas pH and concentrations of dissolved oxygen, orthophosphate, nitrate, and silicon were more closely related to spatial variation and thermal stratification. The maximum chlorophyll concentration when the lake was thermally stratified in August and September was usually between depths of 100 m and 120 m. In comparison, the depth of maximum primary production ranged from 60 m to 80 m at this time of year. Regression analysis detected a weak negative relationship between chlorophyll concentration and Secchi disk depth, a measure of lake transparency. However, interannual changes in chlorophyll concentration and the species composition of the phytoplankton could not be explained by the removal of the septic field near Rim Village or by patterns of upwelling from the deep lake. An alternative trophic hypothesis proposes that the productivity of Crater Lake is controlled primarily by long-term patterns of climatic change that regulate the supply of allochthonous nutrients.     

太湖夏季浮游细菌群落多样性的空间格局简

为了研究太湖夏季浮游细菌群落多样性与水体营养盐的关系,在太湖全湖范围内开展了一次大规模浮游细菌采样调查,分析了太湖不同湖区浮游细菌丰度和多样性组成。研究发现,浮游细菌丰度在不同湖区中存在明显的空间差异,从北部和西部湖区沿湖流向东南方向至湖心和南部沿岸再到东部湖区呈下降趋势,这与太湖水体营养水平从高到低变化趋势一致。浮游细菌丰度与营养盐浓度回归分析结果显示,总磷(TP)与细菌丰度存在较好的正相关(R2=0.6392,n=29,P0.01),而总氮(TN)与细菌丰度无显著相关(R2=0.0663,n=29,P0.05)。因此,磷是太湖夏季浮游细菌生长的限制因子。不同湖区营养盐与浮游细菌群落多样性也具有显著的正相关,随着营养水平的升高,浮游细菌多样性增加。此外,细菌群落的组成在不同湖区间亦具有明显的空间异质性,与不同湖区营养水平空间变化一致。研究结果将有助于人们更好地理解淡水湖泊中微生物循环和生态系统功能。     

Distribution of introduced and native fish in Patagonia (Argentina): patterns and changes in fish assemblages

The interaction between native fishes and salmonids introduced in Patagonia at the beginning of the 20th Century, developed at the same time as the environmental change. The phenomenon of global warming has led to the formulation of predictions in relation to changes in the distribution of species, in the latitudinal dimension, both at intralacustrine, or small streams levels. The aim of the present work includes three main objectives: a) to compose a general and updated picture of the latitudinal distribution range of native and alien fishes, b) to analyze the historical changes in the relative abundance of Percichthys trucha, Odontesthes sp., and salmonids in lakes and reservoirs, and c) to relate the diversity and relative abundance of native and salmonid fishes to the environmental variables of lakes and reservoirs. We analysed previous records and an ensemble of data about new locations along the northern border of the Patagonian Province. We compared current data about the relative abundance of native fishes and salmonids in lakes and reservoirs, with previous databases (1984–1987). All samplings considered were performed during spring-summer surveys and include relative abundance, as proportions of salmonids, P. trucha, and Odontesthes sp. For the first time, we found changes in fish assemblages from twenty years back up to the present: a significant decline in the relative abundances of salmonids and an increase of P. trucha. We studied the association between the diversity and relative abundance of native and salmonid fishes and the environmental variables of lakes and reservoirs using Canonical Correspondence Analysis. Relative abundance showed mainly geographical cues and the diversity relied largely on morphometric characteristics. Relative abundance and diversity seem to have a common point in the lake area, included into the PAR concept. Native abundance and alien diversity were negatively related with latitude. Greater native diversity was observed in lakes with high PAR compared with salmonids. Historical changes such as southward dispersion, relative abundance changes, and geographical patterns for relative abundance and diversity are basic concepts needed not only in future research but also in management design for Patagonian fish populations.     

安徽藓类植物区系

作者在对安徽省进行实地考察和采集的2000余号苔藓植物标本的基础上,经过研究鉴定,并收集整理了有关安徽藓类的资料,对照现有文献,发现安徽已知藓类植物有46科、164属、545种(包括8亚种和32变种),其中新记录95种(包括3变种1亚种);青藓科为安徽省藓类第一大科,含9属52种,占总种数的9.6,青藓属是第一大属,包括有29种,占总种数5.3;科内种数(≥19种)优势科有10个,属内种数(≥6种)的优势属有22个。在安徽省藓类区系中,以东亚成分为主并占了28.6、北温带成分占23.0、热带亚洲成分占17.8,温带亚洲成分为10.6,中国特有成分占到10.4,这5种区系成分都超过10,它们是本省最主要的区系地理成分。     

Is abundance a species attribute? An example with haematophagous ectoparasites

Population density is a fundamental property of a species and yet it varies among populations of the same species. The variation comes from the interplay between intrinsic features of a species that tend to produce repeatable density values across all populations of the same species and extrinsic environmental factors that differ among localities and thus tend to produce spatial variation in density. Is inter-population variation in density too large for density to be considered a true species character? We addressed this question using data on abundance (number of parasites per individual host, i.e. equivalent to density) of fleas ectoparasitic on small mammals. The data included samples of 548 flea populations, representing 145 flea species and obtained from 48 different geographical regions. Abundances of the same flea species on the same host species, but in different regions, were more similar to each other than expected by chance, and varied significantly among flea species, with 46% of the variation among samples accounted by differences between flea species. Thus, estimates of abundance are repeatable within the same flea species. The same repeatability was also observed, but to a lesser extent, across flea genera, tribes and subfamilies. Independently of the identity of the flea species, abundance values recorded on the same host species, or in the same geographical region, also showed significant statistical repeatability, though not nearly as strong as that associated with abundance values from the same flea species. There were also no strong indications that regional differences in abiotic variables were an important determinant of variation in abundance of a given flea species on a given host species. Abundance thus appears to be a true species trait in fleas, although it varies somewhat within bounds set by species-specific life history traits.     

Spatial scaling laws do not structure strongyloid nematode communities in macropodid hosts

The characteristics of species within a community can influence the number of species that can coexist within that community. In particular, body size can constrain how many individuals can 'fit' into a community, and overlap in resource use between species depends on differences in their body sizes. Here, using data from 18 communities of strongyloid nematodes living in the stomachs of macropodid marsupials, we test key predictions derived from spatial scaling laws regarding the minimum similarity in body size between coexisting species believed to control how many species can coexist in a community. These communities are ideal systems for such a test: they consist of huge numbers of individuals from numerous species, all belonging to the same family (Chabertiidae) and living in the same host organ. Within these communities, we found that mean abundance correlated negatively with body size across all nematode species, whether body size was measured as length or volume. However, we found no support for the predictions of spatial scaling laws. First, the size ratios of pairs of adjacent-sized species did not decrease as a function of the size of the largest species in a pair. The few significant relationships observed were all positive, suggesting that the relative difference in size between adjacent species in the size hierarchy may in fact increase toward the upper end of the size spectrum. Second, the frequency distributions of body sizes were predominantly right-skewed amongst the communities investigated: within the size spectrum observed in a nematode community, small-bodied species greatly outnumber large-bodied ones, in sharp contrast to the predictions of spatial scaling laws. Nematode body size may thus determine the abundance achieved by a species but not how many species can coexist; the limiting similarity between coexisting species must depend on other biological traits.