Colonization rates in a metacommunity altered by competition.

Competition and colonization are two mechanisms that are important for determining coexistence and species diversity in spatially structured habitats. However, these mechanisms may not be independent as species can exhibit behavioral or physiological changes in response to competition that alters th...

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Main Authors: Shajini Jeganmohan, Caroline Tucker, Marc W Cadotte
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2014-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3923775?pdf=render
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author Shajini Jeganmohan
Caroline Tucker
Marc W Cadotte
author_facet Shajini Jeganmohan
Caroline Tucker
Marc W Cadotte
author_sort Shajini Jeganmohan
collection DOAJ
description Competition and colonization are two mechanisms that are important for determining coexistence and species diversity in spatially structured habitats. However, these mechanisms may not be independent as species can exhibit behavioral or physiological changes in response to competition that alters their colonization rates. This study examines the effect of interspecific interactions on the colonization rates of four microscopic species (three ciliates and a rotifer) in aquatic microcosms. Two species showed significant reductions in the time to colonize patches when confronted with a competitor, one was a good disperser (Colpidium striatum) and the other was the slowest disperser (Philodina spp.). These results indicate that species' colonization rates in a metacommunity can vary depending on the presence of competitors. Thus, we suggest that predictions based on heuristic tradeoffs between competition and colonization should consider effects of common biotic interactions such as competition.
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spelling doaj.art-1df7748d42c6404cb1af5f2389686bc42022-12-22T03:12:33ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032014-01-0192e8834410.1371/journal.pone.0088344Colonization rates in a metacommunity altered by competition.Shajini JeganmohanCaroline TuckerMarc W CadotteCompetition and colonization are two mechanisms that are important for determining coexistence and species diversity in spatially structured habitats. However, these mechanisms may not be independent as species can exhibit behavioral or physiological changes in response to competition that alters their colonization rates. This study examines the effect of interspecific interactions on the colonization rates of four microscopic species (three ciliates and a rotifer) in aquatic microcosms. Two species showed significant reductions in the time to colonize patches when confronted with a competitor, one was a good disperser (Colpidium striatum) and the other was the slowest disperser (Philodina spp.). These results indicate that species' colonization rates in a metacommunity can vary depending on the presence of competitors. Thus, we suggest that predictions based on heuristic tradeoffs between competition and colonization should consider effects of common biotic interactions such as competition.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3923775?pdf=render
spellingShingle Shajini Jeganmohan
Caroline Tucker
Marc W Cadotte
Colonization rates in a metacommunity altered by competition.
PLoS ONE
title Colonization rates in a metacommunity altered by competition.
title_full Colonization rates in a metacommunity altered by competition.
title_fullStr Colonization rates in a metacommunity altered by competition.
title_full_unstemmed Colonization rates in a metacommunity altered by competition.
title_short Colonization rates in a metacommunity altered by competition.
title_sort colonization rates in a metacommunity altered by competition
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3923775?pdf=render
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AT carolinetucker colonizationratesinametacommunityalteredbycompetition
AT marcwcadotte colonizationratesinametacommunityalteredbycompetition