Species Packing and Niche Complementarity in Three Sunfishes

摘要: A fundamental problem in ecology is to identify and relate those factors which determine the number of species that can stably coexist an area. Interspecific competition one such factor, principle it limits similarity competing relation abundance diversity critical resources. MacArthur Levins (1967) first explored this limit with a three-species Lotka-Volterra model. The success invading between two residents on resource axis was related differences mean utilization axis. Resource considered uniform across types, functions were assumed be normal, differing only position analysis has subsequently been extended include as environmental variability, relative resources, shape curve, predation pressure (e.g., May 1972; 1972a; Roughgarden 1974b; Feldman 1975). variety resources used by (i.e., niche width) central issue theory usually treated given parameter. Both width location are functional morphology "tools" obtaining resources). In fact, observations suggesting direction Hutchinson's (1959) remarks uniformity character displacement ratios among wide sympatric species, particularly trophic apparatus. Morphological measurements have widely since indices or Cody 1974a; Van Valen 1965; Soule Stewart 1970). Very seldom, however, foraging efficiency morphologically similar quantified set change recognizable (hopefully orderable) manner. Careful studies would facilitate testing development providing link morphology, utilization, parameters concern, measures overlap use. study I quantitatively body plan fishes food size dimension niche. Using methods derived from optimal theory, cost curves constructed coordinate for