Intra- and interspecific interactions and environmental factors determine spatial–temporal species assemblages of rodents in arid grasslands

Jiang, Guangshun; Li, Jun; Xu, Lei; Yan, Chuan; He, Honglin; Zhang, Zhibin

doi:10.1007/s10980-014-0039-6

Cited by 11 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…As a result, we also found some evidence of resource partitioning, with P. daltoni occupying a higher trophic level where species richness was highest at the northern site. These results are consistent with the findings of Jiang et al (2015) , who demonstrated the importance of intraspecific interactions and environmental variables in explaining spatial-temporal communities in small mammals from arid grasslands in China. Additionally, Codron et al (2015) reported species occupying similar isotopic niches exhibited spatial separation for small mammals in South Africa.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Distinct isotopic signatures reveal effect of ecoregion on small mammals of Ghana

Harris

Garshong

Gray

2017

Journal of Mammalogy

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Species reside in dynamic environments, simultaneously experiencing variations in climatic conditions, habitat availability and quality, interspecific interactions, and anthropogenic pressures. We investigated variation in foraging ecology of the small mammal community between land-use classifications (i.e., protected national parks and unprotected lands abutting them) in Mole National Park (MNP) and Digya National Park (DNP), representing distinct ecoregions of Ghana. In 5,064 trap nights, we sampled 153 individuals of 23 species within the 2 national parks and adjacent lands outside protected boundaries to describe variation in community composition. We also used δ13 C and δ15 N isotopic ratios from fresh feces to determine main effects and interactions between land use and ecoregion on trophic structure in species and communities of small mammals. Small mammals exhibited distinct community assemblages between ecoregions (i.e., national parks): Gerbilliscus guineae, Hybomys trivirgatus, Malacomys edwardsi, Lemniscomys bellieri, L. zebra, and Taterillus gracilis were only captured in the dry savanna ecoregion of MNP. Additionally, isotopic signatures for nitrogen were significantly lower in MNP (2.83 ± 0.17‰) compared to DNP (4.97 ± 0.33‰), indicating that small mammals occupied different trophic levels between ecoregions. The most common species, Praomys daltoni exhibited variation in isotopic signatures between ecoregions and land use, with higher δ15 N found within MNP boundaries. We found no distinction in δ13 C at the community or species level within or across protected areas. Ultimately, understanding shifts in the ecology of species can inform predictions about community structure and ecosystem function under future environmental and anthropogenic scenarios.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Distinct isotopic signatures reveal effect of ecoregion on small mammals of Ghana

Harris

Garshong

Gray

2017

Journal of Mammalogy

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“…Interactions among individuals-both within and between species-are diverse, complex, and contingent on local and regional issues, ranging from species composition to habitat and climatic influences. In general, intraspecific competition is generally stronger than interspecific interactions (Tong et al 2012;Jiang et al 2015), but the relative roles of competition and predation are less clear. The former may be the stronger influence on habitat selection for collared and brown lemmings (e.g., Dupuch et al 2014) and more strongly depress population size for red-backed voles (Lemaître et al 2010), whereas the latter appears to be a more proximal factor in habitat selection of gerbils (Abramsky et al 1998).…”

Section: Conclusion and Prospectusmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Competition has been a dominant theme throughout the history of ecology, and is an essential mechanism underlying much of natural selection. Intraspecific competition takes many forms and may be more common and significant than interspecific competition (Jiang et al 2015). Intraspecific competition implies density-dependence (DD) and this is essential to logistic growth and considerations of carrying capacities and resource limitation.…”

Section: Intraspecific Competitionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advances in population ecology and species interactions in mammals

Kelt

Heske

Lambin

et al. 2019

Journal of Mammalogy

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The study of mammals has promoted the development and testing of many ideas in contemporary ecology. Here we address recent developments in foraging and habitat selection, source–sink dynamics, competition (both within and between species), population cycles, predation (including apparent competition), mutualism, and biological invasions. Because mammals are appealing to the public, ecological insight gleaned from the study of mammals has disproportionate potential in educating the public about ecological principles and their application to wise management. Mammals have been central to many computational and statistical developments in recent years, including refinements to traditional approaches and metrics (e.g., capture-recapture) as well as advancements of novel and developing fields (e.g., spatial capture-recapture, occupancy modeling, integrated population models). The study of mammals also poses challenges in terms of fully characterizing dynamics in natural conditions. Ongoing climate change threatens to affect global ecosystems, and mammals provide visible and charismatic subjects for research on local and regional effects of such change as well as predictive modeling of the long-term effects on ecosystem function and stability. Although much remains to be done, the population ecology of mammals continues to be a vibrant and rapidly developing field. We anticipate that the next quarter century will prove as exciting and productive for the study of mammals as has the recent one.

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“…The level of aggression displayed by competitors during such interactions is influenced by the potential benefits obtained by winning a contest, and the risks faced during confrontations (Maynard-Smith 1982, Enquist and Leimar 1987, Innocent et al 2011. Accordingly, fluctuations in resource availability, competitive ability, or changes in the population density of competitors are likely to influence the coexistence of antagonistic competitors (Brown 1989, Sih et al 2012, Flynn and Pereira 2013, Jiang et al 2015.…”

Section: Impacts Of Worker Density In Colony-level Aggression Expansmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of worker density in colony‐level aggression, expansion, and survival of the acacia‐ant Crematogaster mimosae

Ruiz-Guajardo

Grossenbacher

Grosberg

et al. 2017

Ecological Monographs

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Experimental studies assessing the impact of demographic changes on aggression and inter‐group competitive outcomes in communities of social species are rare. This gap in our knowledge is important, not only because social species are foundational elements of many terrestrial ecosystems, but because interference competition among social groups often involves decision‐like processes influenced by demographic and environmental contexts. In East Africa, the symbiotic ant Crematogaster mimosae is a co‐dominant competitor that engages in high‐mortality, intra‐ and interspecific battles for sole possession of host trees. We manipulated worker density on C. mimosae Acacia host trees, and the colony's opportunity to expand onto neighboring trees to identify how these factors influenced colony‐level aggression, expansion success, and longer‐term survivorship. Worker density on focal trees was increased through translocation of domatia‐bearing branches, and was decreased using partial tree fumigations. We examined impacts of density manipulations on aggression and immediate expansion success under two different risk scenarios. We tied focal trees to either an experimentally emptied‐tree (low‐risk treatment), or to a C. nigriceps‐occupied tree (high‐risk treatment). Expansion success onto emptied neighbor trees was 100% for controls and increased‐density colonies, but only 50% for decreased‐density colonies, despite the fact that host trees are a limiting resource in this system. Success expanding onto trees occupied by a heterospecific competitor reached 36%, 40%, and 79% in decreased, control, and increased‐density trees, respectively. Our results show that changes in worker density due to disturbances or inter‐group battles have the potential to disrupt competitive hierarchies. Worker density manipulations also affected longer‐term colony persistence. Behavioral and genetic data revealed that 12 months after expansions 100% of the decreased‐density colonies, and 25% of control and increased‐density colonies, had been supplanted by neighboring opportunistic conspecifics. Intraspecific aggression may have lower costs in C. mimosae because aggressive colonies can incorporate workers or queens from defeated competitors. The unexpectedly high frequency of conflicts between conspecific C. mimosae, in combination with behaviors decreasing the cost of intraspecific competition relative to interspecific conflict, may create opportunities for the survival of subordinate competitors in this ant–plant system.

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Intra- and interspecific interactions and environmental factors determine spatial–temporal species assemblages of rodents in arid grasslands

Cited by 11 publications

References 58 publications

Distinct isotopic signatures reveal effect of ecoregion on small mammals of Ghana

Distinct isotopic signatures reveal effect of ecoregion on small mammals of Ghana

Advances in population ecology and species interactions in mammals

Impacts of worker density in colony‐level aggression, expansion, and survival of the acacia‐ant Crematogaster mimosae

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