Question

Explain one example of interspecific competition from primary peer-reviewed literature only. In complete sentences, briefly summarize the methods and results of study (minimum 2 sentences). Include in-text citations and add your citations.

Answer 1

Interspecific competition is a “dominant force” in communities of animals that leads to shifts in niches in ecological and evolutionary time.

The study of interspecific competition between “little bustard” and the “great bustard” by the use of multidimensional niche approach and habitat distribution data: the data was taken in April and May that was their mating season as the birds are conspicuous and habitat niche shifts and overlaps were measured.

Data analysis showed that Great bustard density is more variable than little bustard density. The habitat niches overlapped partially but there was no any effect on the density of great bustard due to niche overlap, but little bustard niche was affected by habitat availability. Theoretically interspecific competition causes complete spatial separation of species in the habitats as preferred by the individual species but the habitat niches of these species, little and great bustard overlapped partially in the regions where they existed. This can happen because there are unresolved interspecific competitions and habitat niches are not completely segregated.