Niche partitioning and coexistence of two spiders of the genus Peucetia (Araneae, Oxyopidae) inhabiting Trichogoniopsis adenantha plants (Asterales, Asteraceae)

Abstract

Niche theory suggests that the coexistence of ecologically similar species in the same site requires some form of resource partitioning that reduces or avoids interspecific competition. Here, from July 2013 to December 2015, we investigated spatial niche differentiation at three different scales of two sympatric congeneric spiders, Peucetia rubrolineata and P. flava, along an altitudinal gradient in shaded and open areas in an Atlantic forest in Serra do Japi, SP, Brazil. These spiders are peculiar in that they present an exclusive association with the plant Trichogoniopsis adenantha (Asteraceae). In theory, the coexistence of two Peucetia species could be explained by: (1) microhabitat segregation with individuals from different species occupying different parts of the same plants; (2) mesohabitat segregation with different species using plant in different environments; (3) macrohabitat segregation, where different species would not co-occur along the altitudinal gradient. With respect to micro-habitat use, in both species, different instars used different plant parts, while the same instars of both species used the same type of substrate. However, the two Peucetia species segregated by meso-habitat type, with P. rubrolineata preferring T. adenantha plants in shaded areas and P. flava preferring those in open areas. Our results support the hypothesis of niche partitioning begetting diversity, and highlight the importance of analyzing habitat use at multiple scales to understand mechanisms related to coexistence.

Spatio‐temporal species aggregations do not rule out interspecific competition in tree hollow spider assemblages

“…In interspecific competition terms, spiders rarely compete for food, especially in web‐spinners (Wise, 1993), but this can sometimes be significant between congeneric species or species belonging to the same family (Michalko et al, 2016; Michalko & Pekár, 2015; Nieto‐Castañeda & Jiménez‐Jiménez, 2009; Nyffeler et al, 1986). Some studies have shown that arachnids avoid competing by adopting strategies, such as spatial partitioning (Cumming & Wesołowska, 2004; Harwood et al, 2003; Michalko et al, 2016; Pekár et al, 2020; Villanueva‐Bonilla et al, 2019), temporal partitioning (are active or breed on different days or times of the year, respectively; Herberstein, 1997; Herberstein & Elgar, 1994; Ward & Lubin, 1992) or trophic partitioning (consume prey of different types or sizes according to their own trophic guild, size and food preferences; Nieto‐Castañeda & Jiménez‐Jiménez, 2009; Richardson & Hanks, 2009; Tahir et al, 2012). However, the contribution of interspecific competition to the structuring of tree hollow spider communities and their mechanisms is unknown.…”

Niche partitioning in congeneric scorpions

“…Although previous studies have explored microhabitat, diet, and temporal activity within conspecific and congeneric scorpion species (Nime, Casanoves, & Camilo, ; Polis, , , ; Polis & Farley, ; Polis & McCormick, ; Shehab, Amr, & Lindsel, ), there has been little attention to microhabitat use by tropical scorpions (Lira & Souza, ; Lira, DeSouza, & Alberquerque, ; Lira, Rego, & Albuquerque, ; Lira, Souza, Silva Filho, & Albuquerque, ). Furthermore, environmental data have not been used to discern niche differences in congeneric scorpions to the same degree as other arachnid groups (Mammola, Piano, & Isaia, ; Michalko & Pekar, ; Villanueva‐Bonilla, Safuan‐Naide, Pires, & Vasconcellos‐Neto, ). This study is the first to not only characterize microhabitat use by scorpion species within the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, but also to use multivariate environmental trait data to quantify the niche breadth and overlap within sympatric congeneric species.…”

Coexistence of two termite‐eating specialists (Araneae)

“…Closely-related coexisting generalist species have Correspondence: Stano Pekár, Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37, Brno, Czech Republic. E-mail: pekar@sci.muni.cz been found to be segregated by soil type (Portela et al, 2013), season (Turner & Polis, 1979;Herberstein, 1997), body size and space (Nieto-Castañeda & Jiménez-Jiménez, 2009), foraging mode (Novak et al, 2010;Kennedy et al, 2020), habitat type (Enders, 1974;Thompson et al, 2015;Michalko et al, 2016;Villanueva et al, 2019), or prey (Michalko & Pekár, 2015).…”

“…species with a broad niche breadth, multiple evidence shows that coexistence is achieved by restricting the breadth of niche dimensions. Closely‐related coexisting generalist species have been found to be segregated by soil type (Portela et al ., 2013), season (Turner & Polis, 1979; Herberstein, 1997), body size and space (Nieto‐Castañeda & Jiménez‐Jiménez, 2009), foraging mode (Novak et al ., 2010; Kennedy et al ., 2020), habitat type (Enders, 1974; Thompson et al ., 2015; Michalko et al ., 2016; Villanueva et al ., 2019), or prey (Michalko & Pekár, 2015).…”