Testing the competitive exclusion principle using various niche parameters in a native (Natrix maura) and an introduced (N. tessellata) colubrid

Metzger, César; Ursenbacher, Sylvain; Christe, Philippe

doi:10.1163/156853809789647031

Cited by 11 publications

(6 citation statements)

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“…As a consequence of human activities, the populations of several semi-aquatic reptiles are in severe decline (Filippi and Luiselli 2000;Cox et al 2006). This is attributable to a decline in habitat quality and the increasing presence of alien species that are, in many cases, superior competitors in disturbed environments (Cadi and Joly 2003;Metzger et al 2009). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patterns of occurrence of semi-aquatic reptiles in highly invaded Mediterranean rivers

Escoriza¹

2018

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The fluvial systems in the north-east of the Iberian Peninsula are highly disturbed habitats, with widespread occurrence of alien species. Previous studies have shown that alien species have a major impact on native freshwater fauna, but it is not known what effect they have on semi-aquatic reptiles. Here the author investigated the factors that influence the occurrence of three species of semi-aquatic reptiles, one turtle (Mauremys leprosa) and two snakes (Natrix astreptophora and Natrix maura), at 261 sites in seven rivers/streams in Girona (north-eastern Spain). The studied semi-aquatic reptiles are habitat generalists which can occupy sections of rivers with altered regimes. The relationships of reptile presence to abiotic niche parameters and the presence of alien species were evaluated, as well as the patterns of pairwise co-occurrence between the reptiles. The presence of alien species did impact one out of three reptiles in this community. The association between both species of natricines was weakly negative, suggesting that interspecific competition does not structure their co-occurrences. The removal of alien species is the most appropriate strategy to preserve the complete diversity of native semi-aquatic reptiles.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patterns of occurrence of semi-aquatic reptiles in highly invaded Mediterranean rivers

Escoriza¹

2018

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“…Both species currently live sympatrically in this area (Metzger et al 2009). Since 1999, declines of the large viperine snake population have been documented and these declines might be associated with the presence of the dice snake (Metzger et al 2009(Metzger et al ,2011Mazza et al 2011). Indeed, the trophic niche overlap between the 2 species is very significant (75-95%; Metzger et al 2009, Mazza et al 2011, with the majority of prey eaten by both species being the European bullhead (Cottus gobio).…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Since 1999, declines of the large viperine snake population have been documented and these declines might be associated with the presence of the dice snake (Metzger et al 2009(Metzger et al ,2011Mazza et al 2011). Indeed, the trophic niche overlap between the 2 species is very significant (75-95%; Metzger et al 2009, Mazza et al 2011, with the majority of prey eaten by both species being the European bullhead (Cottus gobio). However, species such as the European perch (Perca fluviatilis), common roach (Rutilus rutilus), common bleak (Alburnus alburnus), and gudgeon (Gobio gobio) are also consumed by both snakes (Metzger et al 2009, Mazza et al 2011.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Indeed, the trophic niche overlap between the 2 species is very significant (75-95%; Metzger et al 2009, Mazza et al 2011, with the majority of prey eaten by both species being the European bullhead (Cottus gobio). However, species such as the European perch (Perca fluviatilis), common roach (Rutilus rutilus), common bleak (Alburnus alburnus), and gudgeon (Gobio gobio) are also consumed by both snakes (Metzger et al 2009, Mazza et al 2011. Besides diet overlap, Metzger et al (2011) proposed that the dice snake might attain higher reproductive fitness than the viperine snake because of its longer feeding period and larger clutch size.…”

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Introduced freshwater blenny influences the diet and body condition of the invasive dice snake in Lake Geneva

Dubey¹,

Christe²,

Formenti³

et al. 2015

J Wildl Manag

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Non-indigenous species can have strong impacts on biodiversity by affecting trophic relationships in their new environments. The piscivorous dice snake (Natrix tessellata) has been introduced to Geneva Lake, western Switzerland, where the endangered viperine snake (Natrix maura) is native. Local, dramatic declines in the viperine snake population might be associated with the appearance of the dice snake through dietary overlap between these 2 species, which mainly feed on bullhead (Cottus gobio). In response to this decline, a control program for dice snake was implemented in 2007 to reduce numbers of this introduced snake. In 2010, a new species of fish, the freshwater blenny (Salaria fluviatilis), which shares the same habitat as the bullhead, was introduced into Lake Geneva and has since reached high densities. We determined the impact of freshwater blenny on diet composition and body condition of dice snakes. In addition, we tested for effects of the control program on the body condition of dice snakes and viperine snakes. We collected 294 dice snakes between 2007 and 2013. Based on morphology and a genetic marker (cytochrome b gene), we determined the fish species contained in these snakes' stomachs. We found a drastic switch in dice snake diet following the arrival of freshwater blenny, as consumption of bullhead declined by 68% and was replaced by the blenny. In addition, the body condition of dice snakes increased significantly after the arrival of freshwater blenny. The body condition of both snake species was positively correlated with the number of dice snakes removed from the study area. This finding has important implications concerning the conservation of the endangered viperine snake, and suggests that the control program of dice snakes should be continued. Ó 2014 The Wildlife Society.

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Competitive Exclusion and Axiomatic Set-Theory: De Morgan’s Laws, Ecological Virtual Processes, Symmetries and Frozen Diversity

Flores

2016

Acta Biotheor

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This work applies the competitive exclusion principle and the concept of potential competitors as simple axiomatic tools to generalized situations in ecology. These tools enable apparent competition and its dual counterpart to be explicitly evaluated in poorly understood ecological systems. Within this set-theory framework we explore theoretical symmetries and invariances, De Morgan's laws, frozen evolutionary diversity and virtual processes. In particular, we find that the exclusion principle compromises the geometrical growth of the number of species. By theoretical extending this principle, we can describe interspecific depredation in the dual case. This study also briefly considers the debated situation of intraspecific competition. The ecological consequences of our findings are discussed; particularly, the use of our framework to reinterpret coupled mathematical differential equations describing certain ecological processes.

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Testing the competitive exclusion principle using various niche parameters in a native (Natrix maura) and an introduced (N. tessellata) colubrid

Cited by 11 publications

References 50 publications

Patterns of occurrence of semi-aquatic reptiles in highly invaded Mediterranean rivers

Patterns of occurrence of semi-aquatic reptiles in highly invaded Mediterranean rivers

Introduced freshwater blenny influences the diet and body condition of the invasive dice snake in Lake Geneva

Competitive Exclusion and Axiomatic Set-Theory: De Morgan’s Laws, Ecological Virtual Processes, Symmetries and Frozen Diversity

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