Time scale of resource dynamics and coexistence through time partitioning

Abstract The difference between the time scales of consumer and resource dynamics is a critical factor for the coexistence of consumers that occupy different temporal niches in a seasonal environment. Its significance is investigated using a general discrete cyclic model involving two consumers competing for the exploitation of one resource. Simulations confirm and extend previous analytical results. Temporal overlap and difference between consumer efficiencies play roles that are in general qualitatively similar to those of niche overlap and difference between carrying capacities in the classical theory of competition in a constant environment. But the relative time scale of resource dynamics plays a crucial role which does not have an analogue in the classical theory: coexistence at the consumer level is possible only above threshold values of both frequency and speed of dynamics at the resource level.

[1]  Hal L. Smith.  Competitive Coexistence in an Oscillating Chemostat , 1981 .

[2]  A. J. Lotka.  Elements of Physical Biology. , 1925, Nature.

[3]  Coexistence of temporally segregated competitors in a cyclic environment , 1989 .

[4]  J. Cushing.  Periodic Lotka-Volterra competition equations , 1986, Journal of mathematical biology.

[5]  Simon A. Levin,et al.  Pattern Formation in Ecological Communities , 1978 .

[6]  Thomas W. Schoener,et al.  Resource Partitioning in Ecological Communities , 1974, Science.

[7]  R. May,et al.  Stability and Complexity in Model Ecosystems , 1976, IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics.

[8]  R. Macarthur,et al.  The Limiting Similarity, Convergence, and Divergence of Coexisting Species , 1967, The American Naturalist.

[9]  P. Chesson,et al.  Environmental Variability Promotes Coexistence in Lottery Competitive Systems , 1981, The American Naturalist.

[10]  Jim M Cushing.  Periodic Two-Predator, One-Prey Interactions and the Time Sharing of a Resource Niche , 1984 .

[11]  Jim M Cushing,et al.  Two species competition in a periodic environment , 1980 .

[12]  Population models in a periodically fluctuating environment , 1980 .

[13]  P. de Mottoni,et al.  Competition systems with periodic coefficients: A geometric approach , 1981 .

[14]  Peter Chesson,et al.  Coexistence Mediated by Recruitment Fluctuations: A Field Guide to the Storage Effect , 1985, The American Naturalist.

[15]  Bruce R. Levin,et al.  Partitioning of Resources and the Outcome of Interspecific Competition: A Model and Some General Considerations , 1973, The American Naturalist.

[16]  A. J. Lotka,et al.  Elements of Physical Biology. , 1925, Nature.

[17]  Toshiyuki Namba,et al.  Competitive Co-existence in a seasonally fluctuating environment , 1984 .

[18]  M. Hassell.  The dynamics of arthropod predator-prey systems. , 1979, Monographs in population biology.