Partitioning of Time as an Ecological Resource

Kronfeld‐Schor, Noga; Dayan, Tamar

doi:10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.34.011802.132435

Cited by 772 publications

(734 citation statements)

References 167 publications

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“…Resource partitioning can occur when species forage in different habitats/ micro-habitats (MacArthur 1958;Hutchinson 1961;Alatalo & Alatalo 1979;Török 1990;Steen et al 2007) and at different times (Bosakowski & Smith 1992;Lawler & Morin 1993;Kronfeld-Schor & Dayan 2003;Lara et al 2009). Furthermore, coexisting species often use different hunting tactics that result in the capture of different prey items (Pulliam 1985;Kent 1986aKent , 1986bKiszka et al 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forest structure affects resource partitioning between pygmy and white-breasted nuthatches

Cloyed

2014

Coevolution

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Ecologically similar, sympatric species will theoretically drive one or the other extinct unless those species can divide their resources. Resource partitioning is a common way to avoid competitive exclusion and these differences in resource utilization often represent the "ghost of competition past." I studied how two closely related species, pygmy (Sitta pygmaea) and white-breasted (Sitta carolinensis) nuthatches, divide tree space. Furthermore, I tested whether pygmy and white-breasted nuthatches foraged in different areas on large-and small-diameter trees and whether pygmy nuthatches foraged more frequently on small-diameter trees. Finally, I tested whether each nuthatch species foraged less frequently in forests where most of the small-diameter trees have been removed. I found that in large trees, pygmy nuthatches foraged higher up in the tree and on the branches than white-breasted nuthatches. White-breasted nuthatches foraged low in the tree and on the trunk. In small-diameter trees, pygmy nuthatches foraged mostly on the lower trunk. White-breasted nuthatches foraged significantly less frequently on small-diameter trees than on large-diameter trees. Overall, pygmy nuthatches foraged more on small-diameter trees. Finally, pygmy nuthatches foraged significantly less frequently in areas of the forest where small-diameter trees have been selectively logged. My results concur with the literature on niche partitioning in forest-dwelling birds, where trees are divided spatially among species. Finally, my data may help explain historical niche relations between these species and how changes in forest structure can alter these niche dynamics.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forest structure affects resource partitioning between pygmy and white-breasted nuthatches

Cloyed

2014

Coevolution

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“…As properties of organisms that strongly influence performance within a particular environment, these strategies can be considered functional traits in themselves (14), but are also associated with suites of adaptations, with implications for the ecological roles of species and individuals. Crepuscular and cathemeral species may have intermediate adaptations (15), and behavior may be flexible to vary within species and among individuals according to factors such as time of year, habitat structure, food availability, age, temperature, and the presence or absence of predators (16-18).The ecology of diel time partitioning by organisms remains rather poorly understood (19,20). Studies have considered the adaptive mechanisms behind strategies within a single ecosystem, including predator avoidance, energetic constraints, diet quality, and interspecific competition (9, 21).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The ecology of diel time partitioning by organisms remains rather poorly understood (19,20). Studies have considered the adaptive mechanisms behind strategies within a single ecosystem, including predator avoidance, energetic constraints, diet quality, and interspecific competition (9, 21).…”

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confidence: 99%

Biogeography of time partitioning in mammals

Bennie

Duffy

Inger

et al. 2014

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

244

209

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Many animals regulate their activity over a 24-h sleep-wake cycle, concentrating their peak periods of activity to coincide with the hours of daylight, darkness, or twilight, or using different periods of light and darkness in more complex ways. These behavioral differences, which are in themselves functional traits, are associated with suites of physiological and morphological adaptations with implications for the ecological roles of species. The biogeography of diel time partitioning is, however, poorly understood. Here, we document basic biogeographic patterns of time partitioning by mammals and ecologically relevant large-scale patterns of natural variation in "illuminated activity time" constrained by temperature, and we determine how well the first of these are predicted by the second. Although the majority of mammals are nocturnal, the distributions of diurnal and crepuscular species richness are strongly associated with the availability of biologically useful daylight and twilight, respectively. Cathemerality is associated with relatively long hours of daylight and twilight in the northern Holarctic region, whereas the proportion of nocturnal species is highest in arid regions and lowest at extreme high altitudes. Although thermal constraints on activity have been identified as key to the distributions of organisms, constraints due to functional adaptation to the light environment are less well studied. Global patterns in diversity are constrained by the availability of the temporal niche; disruption of these constraints by the spread of artificial lighting and anthropogenic climate change, and the potential effects on time partitioning, are likely to be critical influences on species' future distributions.cathemeral | night N atural cycles of light and darkness structure the environment of the majority of eukaryotic organisms. The rotation of the Earth partitions time into regular cycles of day and night, and although all points on the Earth's surface receive roughly equal durations of light and darkness over the course of a year, at mid to high latitudes seasonal variation in day length imposes an uneven distribution throughout the annual cycle. During the hours when the sun is below the horizon, there is seasonal and latitudinal variation in the duration of "biologically useful semidarkness" in the form of twilight and moonlight (1), modified by both the lunar cycle and variable cloud cover, providing changing opportunities for animals able to use visual cues for key behaviors including foraging, predator avoidance, and reproduction (2-6). Activity during both daylight and semidarkness may be further constrained by covariance between the natural cycles of light and temperature; the metabolic costs of thermoregulation place constraints on the time available for activity (7). Thermal constraints may limit nocturnal activity when nighttime temperatures are low, and diurnal activity when temperatures are high. Furthermore, energetic constraints may force some species to be active throughout hours of both ...

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“…Temporal phase shifts in activity times may enable invaders to colonize novel habitats and allow individuals to access essential resources, avoid physiological stressors, or evade predators and competitors [4][5][6]. Such shifts in activity times may also allow invaders to cope with novel environments during the spread phase of the invasion [7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioural flexibility allows an invasive vertebrate to survive in a semi-arid environment

et al. 2014

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Plasticity or evolution in behavioural responses are key attributes of successful animal invasions. In northern Australia, the invasive cane toad (Rhinella marina) recently invaded semi-arid regions. Here, cane toads endure repeated daily bouts of severe desiccation and thermal stress during the long dry season (April-October). We investigated whether cane toads have shifted their ancestral nocturnal rehydration behaviour to one that exploits water resources during the day. Such a shift in hydration behaviour could increase the fitness of individual toads by reducing exposure to desiccation and thermal stress suffered during the day even within terrestrial shelters. We used a novel method (acoustic tags) to monitor the daily hydration behaviour of 20 toads at two artificial reservoirs on Camfield station, Northern Territory. Remarkably, cane toads visited reservoirs to rehydrate during daylight hours, with peaks in activity between 9.00 and 17.00. This diurnal pattern of rehydration activity contrasts with nocturnal rehydration behaviour exhibited by adult toads in their native geographical range and more mesic parts of Australia. Our results demonstrate that cane toads phase shift a key behaviour to survive in a harsh semi-arid landscape. Behavioural phase shifts have rarely been reported in invasive species but could facilitate ongoing invasion success.

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Partitioning of Time as an Ecological Resource

Cited by 772 publications

References 167 publications

Forest structure affects resource partitioning between pygmy and white-breasted nuthatches

Forest structure affects resource partitioning between pygmy and white-breasted nuthatches

Biogeography of time partitioning in mammals

Behavioural flexibility allows an invasive vertebrate to survive in a semi-arid environment

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