Niche width and niche overlap: a method based on type‐2 fuzzy sets

Abstract

Complicated ecosystems and the high non-linearity of evolution has made biology more adaptable to a variety of environments. The relationship between life and environment demands a dynamic definition of niche and its measurement. In this paper we propose a model of niche with dynamic character based on the ''broad band'' effect in type-2 fuzzy sets. The niche in this definition is an interval in each ecological dimension which is dynamic in character and depends on the actual environment. We also give formulas for niche width and niche overlap. We compute the niche width and overlap for plants and animals and then compare these results with previous results. The results for niche width in this paper reflect the diversity of resources used by species or communities. The results for niche overlap demonstrate overlap under different environmental conditions. The results are, moreover, intervals, which could provide more information. The model in this paper could therefore be used to describe the state of every resource comprehensively, reflecting the interaction between species and environment.

Assessment of the interaction between the white shrimp, Palaemon longirostris, and the exotic oriental shrimp, Palaemon macrodactylus, in a European estuary (SW Spain)

“…That is, it is expected a priori that the impact of the invasion of the Guadalquivir estuary by P. macrodactylus would be mainly on its ecological counterpart P. longirostris (Griffen and Byers 2009). Nevertheless, the majority of the authors believe there is no connection between niche overlap and competition (Colwell and Futuyma 1971;Hurlbert 1978;Abrams 1980;Yimin et al 2006). In fact, competition takes place only when two or more organisms obtain their resources from a source that becomes insufficient (Steinwascher 1981), as previously observed between the native crab Hemigrapsus oregonensis and the exotic crabs H. sanguineus and Carcinus maenas in North America (Jensen et al 2002).…”

Measurement of ecological niche of Quercus aliena and Q. serrata under environmental factors treatments and its meaning to ecological distribution

“…Ecological niche overlap means a similar response to an environmental factor or the utilization of the same natural resource by two or more species, and because competition intensity increases with higher niche overlap (Schoener 1970, Hanski 1978, Hulbert 1978, Yimin et al 2006, intra-or interspecific competitions can be estimated and compared by ecological niche overlap (Abrams 1980).…”

A Corporation Niche Analysis of Strategic Alliance

“…Elton [19] regarded niche as the status of an animal in its community, its place in its biotic environment, in particular its relationships with food and enemies, which he emphasized was the concept of functional niche. [17] Above all, niche refers to the time, places of one species and the function relation with the other species, which fits itself most in the ecosystem [32]. Niche not only shows the relationship of one species with the other species in the same community, but also reflects the interaction with environment.…”

“…Some people study the formation of the strategic alliance by game theory [1] [2][3] [4], some people study the formation of the strategic alliance by multi-agent or simulation [5] [6], some people study the formation and stability of the strategic alliance by multi-criteria decision making [7], and some people analyze the strategic alliance by statistics and examples [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. We will analyze the strategic alliance by the niche theory [17]. Grinnell [18] proposed the concept of niches in 1917, or spatial niche, considering the niche as the ultimate distributional unit.…”