Abstract
One of the central assumptions of evolutionary ecology is that interspecific competition is a potent evolutionary force acting on coexisting species. There are few animal species that provide an opportunity for an experimental analysis of the evolutionary consequences of the phenomenon. We have taken advantage of the fact that two species of terrestrial salamander, Plethodon glutinosus and P. jordani, have different altitudinal distributions on two mountain ranges in North Carolina. Field removal experiments showed that interspecfic competition was much stronger in the Great Smoky Mountains than in the Balsam Mountains, and transplant experiments between the two mountain ranges showed that neither species from the Balsam Mountains had a measurable effect on its congener in the Smokies, although both species from the Smokies had strong negative effects on the Balsam congeners. Other experiments were conducted on the behavioral and ecological changes that have (or have not) evolved in the two areas. Our studies show that increased interspecific interference was the major evolutionary response of these large Plethodon species to interspecific competition, and that partitioning of food or microhabitat was not involved.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 247-262 |
| Number of pages | 16 |
| Journal | Evolutionary Ecology |
| Volume | 1 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jul 1987 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Aggression
- altitudinal distribution
- food interference
- North Carolina
- Plethodon
- salamander
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Genetics(clinical)
- Ecology
- Genetics
- Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Cite this
The evolution of competing species of terrestrial salamanders : niche partitioning or interference? / Hairston, Nelson G.; Nishikawa, Kiisa C; Stenhouse, Sarah L.
In: Evolutionary Ecology, Vol. 1, No. 3, 07.1987, p. 247-262.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The evolution of competing species of terrestrial salamanders
T2 - niche partitioning or interference?
AU - Hairston, Nelson G.
AU - Nishikawa, Kiisa C
AU - Stenhouse, Sarah L.
PY - 1987/7
Y1 - 1987/7
N2 - One of the central assumptions of evolutionary ecology is that interspecific competition is a potent evolutionary force acting on coexisting species. There are few animal species that provide an opportunity for an experimental analysis of the evolutionary consequences of the phenomenon. We have taken advantage of the fact that two species of terrestrial salamander, Plethodon glutinosus and P. jordani, have different altitudinal distributions on two mountain ranges in North Carolina. Field removal experiments showed that interspecfic competition was much stronger in the Great Smoky Mountains than in the Balsam Mountains, and transplant experiments between the two mountain ranges showed that neither species from the Balsam Mountains had a measurable effect on its congener in the Smokies, although both species from the Smokies had strong negative effects on the Balsam congeners. Other experiments were conducted on the behavioral and ecological changes that have (or have not) evolved in the two areas. Our studies show that increased interspecific interference was the major evolutionary response of these large Plethodon species to interspecific competition, and that partitioning of food or microhabitat was not involved.
AB - One of the central assumptions of evolutionary ecology is that interspecific competition is a potent evolutionary force acting on coexisting species. There are few animal species that provide an opportunity for an experimental analysis of the evolutionary consequences of the phenomenon. We have taken advantage of the fact that two species of terrestrial salamander, Plethodon glutinosus and P. jordani, have different altitudinal distributions on two mountain ranges in North Carolina. Field removal experiments showed that interspecfic competition was much stronger in the Great Smoky Mountains than in the Balsam Mountains, and transplant experiments between the two mountain ranges showed that neither species from the Balsam Mountains had a measurable effect on its congener in the Smokies, although both species from the Smokies had strong negative effects on the Balsam congeners. Other experiments were conducted on the behavioral and ecological changes that have (or have not) evolved in the two areas. Our studies show that increased interspecific interference was the major evolutionary response of these large Plethodon species to interspecific competition, and that partitioning of food or microhabitat was not involved.
KW - Aggression
KW - altitudinal distribution
KW - food interference
KW - North Carolina
KW - Plethodon
KW - salamander
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0000569515&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0000569515&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/BF02067555
DO - 10.1007/BF02067555
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0000569515
VL - 1
SP - 247
EP - 262
JO - Evolutionary Ecology
JF - Evolutionary Ecology
SN - 0269-7653
IS - 3
ER -