Comparing the diet of two sympatric urolophid elasmobranchs (Trygonoptera testacea Müller & Henle and Urolophus kapalensis Yearsley & Last): evidence of ontogenetic shifts and possible resource partitioning

The diets of two urolophids, the common stingaree Trygonoptera testacea and the kapala stingaree Urolophus kapalensis were analysed and compared to examine resource partitioning between these two morphologically similar sympatric Australian batoids. The diet of T. testacea was polychaete-based, while that of U. kapalensis was dominated by crustaceans (mostly carid shrimps and amphipods). Intraspecific dietary compositions were examined amongst size classes within each of the two species to identify ontogenetic shifts in diet. Differences in the dietary compositions of the smaller total-length classes of T. testacea suggest that their diet shifts as they increase in size, from one dominated by carids to one almost entirely comprising polychaetes. Significant ontogenetic dietary shifts were not identified in U. kapalensis . Although the two species shared eight broad dietary categories, their overall dietary compositions were found to be significantly different. The limited overlap in the dietary compositions of these two sympatric stingarees suggests the possibility of resource partitioning, with interspecific competition being implicated as a possible cue. Possible mechanisms for the partitioning of resources within and between these two species are discussed.     

Variation in the relative magnitude of intraspecific and interspecific competitive effects in novel versus familiar environments in two<Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosophila</Emphasis> species

Models of competitor coevolution, especially the genetic feedback hypothesis, suggest that a negative correlation between intraspecific and interspecific competitive effects may be important in sustaining competitor coexistence, and can give rise to oscillatory dynamics with repeated reversals of competitive superiority. I reanalyzed previously published census data from an experiment in which populationsof Drosophila melanogaster andD. simulans underwent competitive coevolution in one familiar and two novel environments, to specifically look for any evidence of a negative relationship between intraspecific and interspecific competitive effects on population growth rates, and for any indication of short period cycling in the relative magnitude of intraspecific and interspecific competitive effects. While there was considerable variation in the relative magnitude of intraspecific and interspecific competitive effects over generations, among both populations and environments, there was no clear evidence supporting the genetic feedback hypothesis. Intraspecific and interspecific competitive effects on population growth rates were strongly positively correlated in novel environments, and uncorrelated in the familiar environment. Data from the familiar environment indicated that indices of competition of populations of the initially superior competitor,D. melanogaster, might be showing some cyclic behaviour, but I argue that this is likely to be transient, and not suggestive of sustained oscillatory dynamics predicted by the genetic feedback model. I discuss the results in the context of the importance of the genetic architecture of intraspecific and interspecific competitive abilities in determining the coevolutionary trajectory of competitive interactions.     

Mate choice in female convict cichlids (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Amatitlania nigrofasciata</Emphasis>) and the relationship between male size and dominance

We examined how male size and fighting ability influence a female’s mate assessment process and her eventual mate choice in the monogamous convict cichlid, Amatitlania nigrofasciata. Females always chose the larger of two males when they were allowed to see a larger male next to a smaller one and when a larger male defeated a smaller one in a fight. They did not differentiate between large and small males when they did not see the two males together nor did they choose a dominant over a subordinate male when both were the same size. We suggest that females select on the basis of male size because it is a better predictor of both direct and indirect benefits (i.e., future competitive interactions and foraging ability) than dominance behavior only. Despite selecting one male over the other early in the courtship period, females continued to visit both males until spawning. Our evidence suggests that this assessment behavior more closely resembles a bet-hedging tactic rather than the female’s indecision as to which male will be her mate.     

Contest‐type competition between age classes in scramble‐type Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

We examined the effect of age differences on competition type in individuals of a scramble‐type strain of Callosobruchus maculatus (F.). When oviposition of two individuals on a bean was manipulated to introduce time intervals using two lines with different adult body colors, the frequency of two‐adult emergence decreased with the introduction of sequential oviposition. This result indicates that an age difference between two individuals induces contest competition. The frequency of adult emergence in older individuals decreased, whereas in younger individuals it increased with the introduction of sequential oviposition. Using a dissecting microscope, we observed that bodies of older individuals that died in the bean during the 4‐day oviposition interval were crushed at the pupal stage under the pupal chambers of younger individuals. These results show that an age difference between two larvae in a bean causes contest competition due to one‐sided interference by a younger individual during pupation of an older individual. Based on these experimental results, we discuss the ecological cause of contest competition and the population‐level consequences of identified interactions in scramble‐type C. maculatus.     

Sex‐biased dispersal: a review of the theory

Dispersal is ubiquitous throughout the tree of life: factors selecting for dispersal include kin competition, inbreeding avoidance and spatiotemporal variation in resources or habitat suitability. These factors differ in whether they promote male and female dispersal equally strongly, and often selection on dispersal of one sex depends on how much the other disperses. For example, for inbreeding avoidance it can be sufficient that one sex disperses away from the natal site. Attempts to understand sex‐specific dispersal evolution have created a rich body of theoretical literature, which we review here. We highlight an interesting gap between empirical and theoretical literature. The former associates different patterns of sex‐biased dispersal with mating systems, such as female‐biased dispersal in monogamous birds and male‐biased dispersal in polygynous mammals. The predominant explanation is traceable back to Greenwood's ( 1980 ) ideas of how successful philopatric or dispersing individuals are at gaining mates or the resources required to attract them. Theory, however, has developed surprisingly independently of these ideas: models typically track how immigration and emigration change relatedness patterns and alter competition for limiting resources. The limiting resources are often considered sexually distinct, with breeding sites and fertilizable females limiting reproductive success for females and males, respectively. We show that the link between mating system and sex‐biased dispersal is far from resolved: there are studies showing that mating systems matter, but the oft‐stated association between polygyny and male‐biased dispersal is not a straightforward theoretical expectation. Here, an important understudied factor is the extent to which movement is interpretable as an extension of mate‐searching (e.g. are matings possible en route or do they only happen after settling in new habitat – or can females perhaps move with stored sperm). We also point out other new directions for bridging the gap between empirical and theoretical studies: there is a need to build Greenwood's influential yet verbal explanation into formal models, which also includes the possibility that an individual benefits from mobility as it leads to fitness gains in more than one final breeding location (a possibility not present in models with a very rigid deme structure). The order of life‐cycle events is likewise important, as this impacts whether a departing individual leaves behind important resources for its female or male kin, or perhaps both, in the case of partially overlapping resource use.     

The relevance of life-history traits in the establishment of the invader <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eudiaptomus gracilis</Emphasis> and the extinction of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eudiaptomus padanus</Emphasis> in Lake Candia (Northern Italy): evidence for competitive exclusion?

The niches invaded by exotic species are generally not entirely vacant, and one possible factor affecting the success of the invader to establish a permanent large population may be the ability of the former to outcompete native species. Eudiaptomus gracilis, which was not present in Italy before the 1980s, is becoming established in an increasing number of Northern Italian lakes, ultimately replacing the endemic E. padanus. Coexistence of the two species in Lake Candia lasted only 7 months, suggesting that species replacement was determined either by environmental changes or by strong competition. To assess whether the potential for interspecific competition existed and to identify species' traits which could explain the competitive superiority of E. gracilis, we examined field seasonal patterns, reproductive parameters and body size of the two species. E. padanus abundance was probably reduced by predation and parasitism, which favoured the displacement of the species shortly after invasion by E. gracilis. The temporarily underexploited niche provided an opportunity for the successful establishment of the invader. The reproductive patterns of the two species were found to be similar in most of their features, with the exception of a markedly larger clutch size and a smaller egg volume in the resident species. By contrast, the invader showed a higher adult:egg ratio and a lower death rate. Thus, despite the greater fecundity of E. padanus, the competitive success of the invader might be attributable to interspecific differences in developmental rates and/or juvenile mortality.     

Multicoloured greenbeards,bacteriocin diversity and the rock‐paper‐scissors game

Greenbeard genes identify copies of themselves in other individuals and cause their bearer to behave nepotistically towards those individuals. Bacterial toxins (bacteriocins) exemplify the greenbeard effect because producer strains carry closely linked genes for immunity, such that toxicity is limited to nonproducer strains. Bacteriocin producers can be maintained in a dynamic polymorphism, known as rock‐paper‐scissors (RPS) dynamics, with immune and susceptible strains. However, it is unclear whether and how such dynamics will be maintained in the presence of multiple toxin types (multiple beard ‘colours’). Here, we analyse strain dynamics using models of recurrent patch colonization and population growth. We find that (i) polymorphism is promoted by a small number of founding lineages per patch, strong local resource competition and the occurrence of mutations; (ii) polymorphism can be static or dynamic, depending on the intensity of local interactions and the costs of toxins and immunity; (iii) the occurrence of multiple toxins can promote RPS dynamics; and (iv) strain diversity can be maintained even when toxins differ in toxicity or lineages can exhibit multitoxicity/multi‐immunity. Overall, the factors that maintain simple RPS dynamics can also promote the coexistence of multiple toxin types (multiple beard colours), thus helping to explain the remarkable levels of bacteriocin diversity in nature. More generally, we contrast these results with the maintenance of marker diversity in genetic kin recognition.     

植物地上竞争与地下竞争研究进展

植物地上光竞争和地下水分与营养的竞争过程十分复杂,并且与竞争机制密切相关。从地上和地下竞争理论、两种竞争过程的相互作用机制以及分离地上和地下竞争的研究方法和表达指标等几个方面综述和分析目前的研究状况,以期为国内研究者在本领域进一步展开实验提供理论依据和实验设计参考。总结了与地上、地下相对竞争强度有关的优化分配理论,地上、地下竞争随生产力梯度的变化,资源异质性对地上、地下竞争机制的影响。介绍了地上竞争和地下竞争相互作用类型以及目前提出的两种作用机制。对常用的3种分离地上、地下竞争的方法:盆分隔、间植分隔和目标植分隔法以及表达竞争强度和竞争重要性的指标和公式进行了归纳。提出未来的研究内容,认为在开展此类研究时,应考虑到实验植物的生理学特性、发育状况、立地生产力跨度范围以及竞争持续时间等方面因素,并认为发展地下竞争研究、深入探讨根系间相互作用的影响因子和过程是当前的研究热点。     

Examining the link between competition and negative co‐occurrence patterns

Negative species co‐occurrence patterns have long intrigued ecologists because of their potential link to competition. Although manipulative field experiments have consistently revealed evidence of competition in natural communities, there is little evidence that this competition produces negative co‐occurrence patterns. Evidence does suggest that abiotic variation, dispersal limitation and herbivory can contribute to patterns of negative co‐occurrence among species; it is possible these influences have obscured a link with competition. Here, we test for a connection between negative co‐occurrence and competition by examining a small‐scale, relatively homogeneous old‐field plant community where the influence of abiotic variation was likely to be minimal and we accounted for the impact of herbivory with an herbivore exclosure treatment. Using three years of data (two biennial periods), we tested whether negatively co‐occurring pairs of species, when occasionally found together, experienced asymmetric abundance decline more frequently than positively co‐occurring pairs, for which there is no such expectation. We found no evidence that negatively co‐occurring pairs consistently suffered asymmetric abundance decline more frequently than positively co‐occurring pairs, providing no evidence that competition is a primary driver of negative co‐occurrence patterns in this community. Our results were consistent across control and herbivore exclosure treatments, suggesting that herbivores are not driving patterns of negative species co‐occurrence in this community. Any influence of competition or herbivory on co‐occurrence patterns is small enough that it is obscured by other factors such as substrate heterogeneity, dispersal and differential species responses to climatic variation through time. We interpret our results as providing evidence that competition is not responsible for producing negative co‐occurrence patterns in our study community and suggest that this may be the case more broadly.     

Competition among canopy trees in indigenous forests: An analysis of the ‘additive basal area’ phenomenon

The basal area of indigenous forest plots containing large canopy individuals appears to be larger than plots without them. One explanation for this effect is the avoidance of competition for light due to these large individuals emerging above the rest of the canopy and thus casting relatively little shade. In this way the basal area of these emergent individuals becomes ‘additive’ to that of the ‘rest’ of the individuals on a plot. The ‘additive basal area’ phenomenon was tested for in the Knysna Forest, South Africa by regressing the basal area of focal species versus the total basal area of 0.04‐ha plots, as well as against the basal area of the ‘rest’. Regression analysis suggested weak competition and a stronger additive effect. However, no emergent individuals occurred in the study taxa. A strong impact of the size of the largest individual on total plot basal area was found. It is suggested that the reason for this is that large individuals overcome spatial and packing limitations in forests.     

Analysis of interactions between the invasive tree-of-heaven (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ailanthus altissima</Emphasis>) and the native black locust (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Robinia pseudoacacia</Emphasis>)

Invasive exotic plants can persist and successfully spread within ecosystems and negatively affect the recruitment of native species. The exotic invasive Ailanthus altissima and the native Robinia pseudoacacia are frequently found in disturbed sites and exhibit similar growth and reproductive characteristics, yet each has distinct functional roles such as allelopathy and nitrogen fixation, respectively. A four-month full additive series in the greenhouse was used to analyze the intraspecific and interspecific interference between these two species. In the greenhouse experiment, the inverse of the mean total biomass (g) response per plant for each species was regressed on the density of each species and revealed that the performance of the plants was significantly reduced by interspecific interference and not by intraspecific interference (p < 0.05). Other biomass traits such as root dry weight, shoot dry weight, stem dry weight, and leaf dry weight were also negatively affected by interspecific interference. Competition indices such as Relative Yield Total and Relative Crowding Coefficient suggested that A. altissima was the better competitor in mixed plantings. Ailanthus altissima consistently produced a larger above ground and below ground relative yield while R. pseudoacacia generated a larger aboveground relative yield in high density mixed species pots.     

Niche overlap between herbivorous cladocerans; the role of food quality and habitat homogeneity

In spite of resource limitation, five abundant species of herbivorous metazoan zooplankton in a humic lake exhibited extensive niche overlap both with regard to seasonal and spatial occurrence, time of reproductive maxima, juvenile release and food choice. Their coexistence could not be explained by modifying predation, environmental oscillations or recolonization.Laboratory bottle experiments indicated only weak interspecific interactions between the three tested species at low food levels, but negative interactions were induced at elevated food levels. Bosmina appeared as competitively inferior during enrichment with cultured algae, but as the superior species during starvation. At low nutrient levels, all species coexisted for several generations with low reproduction, in accordance with the lake situation. It was concluded that the observed niche overlaps would be promoted if; 1) Intraspecific competition is more important than interspecific competition. 2) All species are co-adapted to low nutrient availability, food is quantitatively in surplus, but qualitatively deficient (mainly recycled detritus). During such conditions, no species would be capable of obtaining a population increase until extinction of the other species. This situation may be typical of oligotrophic humic lakes, and of other localities with low predation pressure and high inputs of allochthonous particulate carbon.     

Contestable shelters provoke aggression among 0+ perch, <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Perca fluviatilis</Emphasis>

Synopsis We examined behavioural interactions and feeding within triads of young-of-the-year (YOY) Eurasian perch, Perca fluviatilis, in aquaria with and without a shelter. For the first time we showed that competition for shelters, but not for food, provokes aggressiveness and triggers establishment of social hierarchy among young perch. No aggressiveness occurred during feeding bouts, when food was a limited resource. We expect the observed interactions to occur in natural heterogeneous habitats providing limited number of refuges and high local density of fish. They may ultimately lead to previously anticipated interference competition among juvenile perch.     

Temperature- and Light-Dependent Performance of the Cyanobacterium <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leptolyngbya Foveolarum</Emphasis> and the Diatom <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nitzschia Perminuta</Emphasis> in Mixed Biofilms

This paper investigates the role of species interactions as a mechanism determining the changing seasonal abundance of microphytobenthic species. Different kinds of interactions can occur between microphytobenthic species, e.g., interference competition (a species directly hindering the growth of another) or resource competition. If such interactions are strong, the capacity of species to exploit parts of the seasonal spectrum of temperature and light conditions could be greatly affected. A model system of two freshwater benthic phototrophs, the cyanobacterium Leptolyngbya foveolarum (Rabenhorst ex Gomont) Anagnostidis et Komárek and the diatom Nitzschia perminuta (Grunow) M. Pergallo, was used to study the capacity of each species to grow in ranges of temperature (7, 15 and 25 °C) and light (5, 40 and 200 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) conditions in single-species and two-species cultures. Growth was followed for 14–17 days by measuring chlorophyll a and maximum photosynthetic capacity using spectrophotometry and pulse amplitude modulated (PAM) fluorimetry. A PHYTO-PAM fluorimeter facilitated simultaneous observations in mixed cultures on the two species. In mixed cultures, the diatom appeared to be a ‘cool season species’ (low temperature and low light intensity) and the cyanobacterium a ‘summer or autumn species’ (higher temperature and light intensities). This is different than predicted by monoculture experiments, where a wide range of optimal growth conditions was found. Two-species biofilm tests indicated inhibitory effects of the cyanobacterium on the diatom species, especially under conditions favorable to the cyanobacterium. High or low light intensities, increase of local pH caused by depletion of inorganic carbon, and limitation of other inorganic nutrients (resource competition) were examined as factors contributing to diatom inhibition, but none provided an acceptable explanation for observed growth patterns. Our results pointed towards interference competition.     

Parasite–grass–forb interactions and rock–paper– scissor dynamics: predicting the effects of the parasitic plant Rhinanthus minor on host plant communities

1.  Parasitic plants affect the growth, reproduction and metabolism of their hosts and may also influence the outcome of competitive interactions between host species and, consequently, the structure of entire host communities.
2.  We investigate the effect of the root hemiparasitic plant Rhinanthus minor on plant community dynamics using a spatial theoretical model. The model is parameterized with data from pairwise interaction experiments under two nutrient levels between the hemiparasite and three grass species ( Cynosurus cristatus , Festuca rubra and Phleum bertolonii ) and three forb species ( Leucanthemum vulgare , Plantago lanceolata and Ranunculus acris ).
3.  Relative interaction coefficients were intransitive, with the dynamics of the system conforming to a rock–paper–scissors game. Stable deterministic dynamics emerge from parameters obtained under low-nutrient conditions. Under high-nutrient conditions, the dynamics are unstable, but are stabilized in spatially explicit models. The outcomes are sensitive to initial spatial pattern and frequency.
4.   Synthesis . This study supports the idea that hemiparasite populations may form 'shifting clouds' in natural populations and explains seemingly unpredictable shifts in host community structure following introduction of hemiparasites. Management of plant communities using hemiparasites needs to take these complex dynamics into account.     

Virgin queens selectively destroy fully matured queen cells in the honeybee <Emphasis Type="Italic">Apis mellifera</Emphasis> L.

Summary Experiments were carried out to determine how newly emerged virgin queens destroy queen cells with broods which will be competitors for the succession of the colony. When queen cells with older, 13-day-old broods set to emerge within 1 day were presented together with those of younger broods to workers and newly emerged queens in the colony, we found that the older queen cells were preferentially destroyed. It was also shown that a virgin queen destroyed the queen cells with older brood (12–13 days old) first when they were presented together with cells with younger broods (9–10 days old) simultaneously in the experimental cage. However, no significant preference was detected in the destruction between queen cells with 10- and 7-day-old broods. We concluded that virgin queens selectively destroy the queen cells housing broods which will emerge shortly. The possibility that by the selective destruction of older queen cells, newly emerged queens can reduce their risks including death that might otherwise be caused by fights with competitors was discussed.Received 10 June 2003; revised 22 December 2003; accepted 15 January 2004.     

Competitive effects and responses of the invasive grass Eragrostis plana in Río de la Plata grasslands

The ability of an invasive species to establish is mostly determined by its biotic interactions with native species from the recipient community. Here, we evaluate the competitive effects and responses of the invasive Eragrostis plana when interacting with native species, in order to identify possible mechanisms driving invasion in Río de la Plata grasslands. A pairwise competition experiment was performed consisting of treatments that varied in the identity of neighbour plant species: (i) control (no interaction); (ii) intraspecific interaction; (iii) interspecific interaction between native and invasive species; and (iv) interspecific interaction between two co‐occurring native species. Data analysis was separated into the effect of E. plana on the performance of three native perennial grasses (target species: Aristida laevis, Eragrostis neesii and Paspalum notatum) and the response of E. plana to natives (target species: E. plana). Separately for each target species, components of plant performance were compared between neighbouring species treatments. We found that the strength of competitive interactions depended on both target and neighbour species identity. Regarding natives, interspecific competition was stronger than intraspecific. Native species showed distinctive responses to whether the neighbour was the invasive or a co‐occurring native (Eragrostis lugens). Competition between E. plana and native species was stronger than between co‐occurring natives. We demonstrated E. plana had a greater negative effect on native's species performance than the native congener E. lugens. Regarding E. plana, intraspecific competition was stronger than interspecific, and its response was positive or neutral when interacting with natives, suggesting its high tolerance to grow in competition with neighbours. We conclude E. plana's negative effects on native species performance, and its positive or neutral responses to neighbouring native plants demonstrate its strong competitive ability in the recipient community. This may explain its invasion success in southern Brazil and in the encompassing Río de la Plata grasslands. Abstract in Spanish is available with online material.     

Combined effects of the entomopathogenic fungus, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paecilomyces fumosoroseus</Emphasis> Apopka-97, and the generalist predator, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dicyphus hesperus</Emphasis>, on whitefly populations

The effects of intraguild interactions between Dicyphus hesperus Knight (Hemiptera: Miridae) and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus Apopka-97 (PFR-97^TM) (Wize) Brown and Smith (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) on Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) populations were investigated in tomato greenhouse microcosms. Conditions were established in which interference or synergy would most likely occur; namely, a high number of available whiteflies were combined with large numbers of both D. hesperus and PFR-97^TM. We measured live whitefly density in a factorial repeated measures experiment where plants were provided or withheld releases of D. hesperus and/or applications of PFR-97^TM for 6 weeks. Releases of D. hesperus were made at a rate of 10 adults/plant during the first and third week and PFR-97^TM suspensions were applied with a backpack sprayer at a rate of 18 × 10⁷, 1.3 × 10⁷ and 1.2 × 10⁷ viable blastospores/ml during the first, third and fourth week, respectively. Results revealed a non-significant interaction effect between D. hesperus and PFR-97^TM, indicating that their actions were independent. Individual whitefly reductions of 48% and 35% were achieved by PFR-97^TM and D. hesperus, respectively. Collectively, the natural enemies reduced whitefly densities by 62% relative to the controls. The density of D. hesperus adults was unaffected by multiple applications of PFR-97^TM. These results suggest that the combination of generalist entomopathogenic fungi and generalist predators has the potential to cause increased pest mortality despite evidence of minimal interference.