Competition and coexistence: the contribution of modelling to the formation of ecological concepts

Ekschmitt, Klemens; Breckling, Broder

doi:10.1016/0304-3800(94)90008-6

Cited by 14 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Models have played a beneficial role in taking ideas between the different realms; they have also built off ecological observations and theory to provide feedback that helps advance all the disciplines. Early mathematical analyses of ecological systems established many of the basic concepts that underlie ecology (Pacala, 1994)-such as competition (Ekschmitt and Breckling, 1994)-even when empirical evidence has been hard to source (e.g., Allee effects; Courchamp et al, 2008). Anderson and May (1979), for instance, not only used models to describe phenomena such as disease outbreaks but to emphasize how these analyses could function as a test bed for theories of spatial ecology (Ferguson et al, 1997).…”

Section: The Modeling Trajectorymentioning

confidence: 99%

Where the Ecological Gaps Remain, a Modelers' Perspective

et al. 2019

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Section: The Modeling Trajectorymentioning

confidence: 99%

Where the Ecological Gaps Remain, a Modelers' Perspective

et al. 2019

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“…The reason is simply that one species will be at least slightly more efficient at capture of the shared resource or will be able to sustain a viable population at lower minimum resource levels than can the second species (Tilman 1982). The principle is described by differential equations and has obtained the status of a biological law (Ekschmitt and Breckling 1994;Weber 1999). However, the empirical support is limited, and mainly based on simple laboratory experiments (Gause 1934;Wang et al 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Competitive exclusion after invasion?

Bøhn¹,

2007

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The 'Competitive Exclusion Principle' is a foundation stone in the understanding of interspecific competition and niche relationships between species. In spite of having the status of a biological law, the principle has limited empirical support. In this study, we document strong effects of competition from the invading fish species vendace Coregonus albula over a 14-year period in the sub-arctic Pasvik watercourse. The native d.r. whitefish, that shared food and habitat niche with the invader, was displaced from its original niche and showed a more than 90% decline in population density over the study period. The study thus provides a unique record of how an exotic fish species excludes a native species from its original niche. Our data support the competitive exclusion principle, but also indicate that the vulnerability of the inferior competitor depends on a lack of alternative resources and on indirect ecological interactions.

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“…Others suggest that the relative importance of competition has been overestimated Simberloff 1979, 1983;den Boer 1986;Ekschmitt and Breckling 1994;Dodds 1997;Gotelli et al 1997), and that the influence of other interactions on community structure has not been well studied (Dodds 1997). These conclusions about the role of competition are frequently derived from studies of distributions of species, inferring process through analysis of pattern, and employing null models based on random distribution of species over a given area (e.g., Simberloff 1979, 1983;Dodds 1997).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…From the early developmental stages of the science of ecology, many researchers have argued that competition is the most important factor determining community organization, frequently to the exclusion of other possible interactions (reviewed by den Boer 1986; Ekschmitt and Breckling 1994). Others suggest that the relative importance of competition has been overestimated Simberloff 1979, 1983;den Boer 1986;Ekschmitt and Breckling 1994;Dodds 1997;Gotelli et al 1997), and that the influence of other interactions on community structure has not been well studied (Dodds 1997).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Nesting distributions of Galápagos boobies (Aves: Sulidae): an apparent case of amensalism

et al. 2002

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Blue-footed boobies (Sula nebouxii) in the Galápagos Islands nest at coastal sites such as cliff edges if Nazca boobies (S. granti) are absent. However, if sympatric with nesting Nazca boobies, they nest nearby, but farther inland, in areas with little topographical relief. Nazca boobies nest at the coastal sites whether blue-footed boobies are present or not. The segregated nesting pattern of these two species offers a model system to investigate factors influencing community structure. We tested a non-interactive hypothesis, in which different fundamental niches generate the non-overlapping distributions, and an interactive hypothesis, in which the two fundamental niches overlap and an interaction between the two species causes the segregation. Data on three factors considered as likely parameters differentiating fundamental niches (nest microclimate, nature of the nesting substrate, and ease of taking flight from nest sites) failed to support the non-interactive hypothesis. These results suggest that the two species have indistinguishable fundamental niches with respect to these parameters, but different realized niches. Researchers studying resource partitioning by ecologically similar species often only consider competition (a "-/-" interaction) to explain situations like this, ignoring the more parsimonious amensal (0/-) possibility. Nesting segregation in this situation is apparently caused by attacks of non-breeding adult Nazca boobies on blue-footed booby nestlings, injuring nestlings and ultimately preventing them from fledging. The interaction does not result in any discernible costs or benefits (i.e., effects on fecundity or survival) for the adult Nazca boobies, so it is best described as an amensal interaction. This interaction provides a sufficient explanation of the observed nesting segregation, and precludes present competition for nesting space.

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Competition and coexistence: the contribution of modelling to the formation of ecological concepts

Cited by 14 publications

References 28 publications

Where the Ecological Gaps Remain, a Modelers' Perspective

Where the Ecological Gaps Remain, a Modelers' Perspective

Competitive exclusion after invasion?

Nesting distributions of Galápagos boobies (Aves: Sulidae): an apparent case of amensalism

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