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Intraspecific Competition. “competition is an interaction between individuals, brought about by a shared requirement for a resource in limited supply, and leading to a reduction in the survivorship, growth and/or reproduction of the competing individuals concerned” Begon, et al. Chapter 6. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Intraspecific Competition
“competition is an interaction between individuals, brought about by a shared requirement for a resource in limited supply, and leading to a reduction in the survivorship, growth and/or reproduction of the competing individuals concerned”
Begon, et al. Chapter 6
Two types of competition
• Scramble (exploitative) competition
* no direct interaction
• Contest (direct or interference) competition
* some type of confrontation
Four characteristics of intraspecific
competition• The ultimate effect: decreased contribution of individuals to the next generations
• The resource must be in limited supply.
• Competing individuals are all essentially equivalent.
• The effect on any individual increases with increasing number of competitors
Density dependent mortality
a=density independent; b=undercompensating density dependance; c=overcompensating density dependent
Mortality/fecundity equilibrium
Reality means there is a broader range in which an equilibrium can be found
Law of Constant Final Yield
• At low densities yield increases with density
• Eventually yield becomes independent of density
L, M, N = nutrient levels
Total yield
Root wt.
Shoot wt.
Carrot Density and
Yield
Results of Intraspecific competition
• Stress
• Dispersal
• Social interactions
* dominance
* territoriality
Territories• Type of territory
* general - breaks down after breeding season
* nesting - (feeding is done elsewhere)
* food resource
• Means of “defending”* Sound* Visual
* Scent marking
Example: Red Grouse
• Three social classes* territorial cocks with hens* nonterritorial surplus birds - on periphery
* nonterritorial transient birds
• Fall to Spring - territories defended* By late winter, all surplus birds removed* # & size of territories determined by amount of heather & N content of foliage
Red grouse breeding & survival
Time Event
August
September
October
November
January
April
Strife - family breakup
Displaced birds
Nonterritorial transientsClass 3
Class 3 birds do not breed
Most Class 3 birds dead
Territorial behavior(young and old) Successful territorial
defenders
Territorial ownersClass 1High survivalreplacement
Resident surplus birdsClass 2
Move to marginal habitat
Fail to breedSurvival poor
Family groups(territorial behavior byold cocks at dawn)
Breeding stock
When is defense profitable?
• When competition exists• When enough resources exist• When costs do not outweigh benefits