Resource partitioning and interspecific competition in snakes: the search for general geographical and guild patterns

摘要: The role of interspecific competition as a key factor in the ecology natural communities where species exploit limited resources is well established, and study dynamics snake has received much attention recent years. Twenty years ago, an acclaimed review (Toft 1985) suggested that snakes were atypical among vertebrates because sympatric usually partition food niche. Here, I articles published last two decades with aim finding any general geographical or guild patterns assessing if Toft's main conclusion still supported by new evidence. Where appropriate, use Monte Carlo simulations to establish whether observed niche overlap are real, they have occurred chance. My shows clear congruence coexistence exhibited different regions world, i.e.: (1) cold northern hemisphere (high latitudes altitudes) exhibit low richness very low, even absent, potential for competition; (2) aquatic form temperate generally type available broad similarity habitat subtle differences microhabitat use; (3) terrestrial variable terms their show no evidence generalised patterns; (4) viperids Europe, North America and, most interestingly, tropical Asia but not prey resource; (5) stronger communities, intensity this process fluctuates throughout year being intense during periods availability; (6) general, resource (prey and/or size), when partitioned competitive exclusion can occur. Prey availability fundamental all communities; clearly documented studies on Australia where, due relative scarcity field, sympatry rarer than other continents. conclude that, although there several notable exceptions, empirical However, disagree specialists, contend important structuring many (if most) around world.