Articles tagged with Species Competition
A University of Arizona-led team combined tree-ring data with forest inventory measurements to predict future tree growth. The researchers found a 56-91% decline in individual tree growth, leading to less carbon sequestration by Arizona's forests.
Current climate models underestimate species extinction rates by neglecting the complexities of ecosystems. Researchers used piñon pine data to model how climate affects tree populations and distribution, finding indirect effects that cannot be captured by climate-only models.
Researchers find that male golden orb-weaving spiders use animal magnetism and physical forces to approach females without being detected. By sensing vibrations on the web, males can balance risk and reward to survive, demonstrating complex decision-making capabilities.
Researchers discovered that these 'meat-eating' bees have a unique gut microbiome enriched with acid-loving bacteria, similar to those found in vultures. The bees' ability to eat dead bodies is surprising, but they can also store honey and have special chambers for meat storage.
Researchers developed a model showing that microbes with complementary preferences can coexist in communities. The study found that assembled communities consist almost exclusively of microbes that grow the fastest on their top choice nutrient.
A new Stanford analysis provides empirical evidence that wildfire is accelerating tree species range shifts toward cooler, wetter sites. The study found that two species had larger range shifts in areas burned by wildfire.
Research by Washington University in St. Louis explores the collision of island and mainland adaptive radiations in neotropical anoles, finding that island species can diversify greatly on the mainland. Contrary to traditional thinking, islands are not evolutionary dead ends but rather cauldrons of innovation and diversification.
Researchers found that rusty crayfish exhibit increased diet specialization and boldness in mid-abundance lakes, where individual behaviors become more diverse. This specialization can lead to impacts on spawning fish populations and ecosystem dynamics.
A study by Okayama University researchers validates the 'pre-emptive selfing hypothesis,' proposing self-pollination as a survival strategy for coexistence. The findings show that evolution of prior selfing favors the propagation of inferior competitive plant species, leading to long-term coexistence.
A mathematical model developed at Linköping University predicts that many species in polar regions will become extinct due to global warming, with ecosystems already showing signs of strain. The model simulates the impact of climate change on species interactions and diversity, highlighting the importance of considering ecological proc...
Low-ranking male hyenas experience higher levels of stress when interacting with rivals, limiting their access to desirable females and reproductive success. This mechanism is more crucial than physical traits in determining offspring quality and quantity.
Researchers studied three closely related cephalopod species in Arctic ecosystems, finding seven traits that allow them to avoid competition. These traits include a pelagic lifestyle, ability to migrate, and geographical variability in diet.
A University of Colorado Boulder-led research confirms that competition between species slows their expansion into new territories over multiple generations. The study uses tiny flour beetles as a model organism to show how interspecies competition puts certain species at greater risk of extinction.
Researchers studied three swan species and found all were most frequently aggressive to their own kind, suggesting similar individuals compete for resources. The findings provide insight into how swan behavior affects other waterbirds over winter and highlight the importance of understanding bird competition.
Researchers discovered that cooperative species can maximize their fitness at suboptimal temperatures by working together, but this cooperation comes with a cost: increased vulnerability to habitat destruction. The study used the Asian burying beetle as a model organism and found that cooperative groups had an optimal breeding temperat...
A new study demonstrates how species cooperation influences vulnerability to climate change. Some species can maximize their fitness by working together in suboptimal environments, but this also makes them more susceptible to habitat destruction.
A frigatebird chick suffering from a viral infection has won the 7th BMC Ecology Image competition. The winning image showcases the intricate relationships between species and their environments. David Costantini's powerful photo highlights pressing issues in ecology, including viral outbreaks affecting bird populations.
In western chimpanzees, females play a crucial role in territorial behavior, cooperating with males to maintain borders and engage in conflicts. Larger groups gain advantages over smaller communities through access to larger territories and reduced neighbor pressure.
A study of 175 reports found that 32.3% of North American perching birds defend their territories against other species, with hybridizing species more likely to do so. Resource competition is a key driver of territorial behavior in these birds.
Female chimpanzees' reproductive success decreases when neighboring groups exert high pressure on their territory, leading to longer intervals between births. High neighbor pressure also negatively affects offspring survival, suggesting that stress from competition triggers physiological responses in gestating females.
Biologists at UC Davis propose that species pay attention to each other, especially if they share predators, leading to new insights into population dynamics and cooperation. Advances in technology have made it easier to study short-lived interactions between species in the wild.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that adult chimpanzees exhibit more frequent and longer play sessions compared to adult lowland gorillas in captivity. This suggests a difference in their level of social cohesion, with chimpanzees living in highly cohesive groups and gorillas having lower levels of social affiliation.
Plant species in the European Alps have shifted their elevational ranges upslope over the past several decades, with average abundance increasing. This trend has slowed at higher elevations, resulting in increased competition among species, particularly those at the highest elevations.
Research suggests that warmer spring temperatures can reduce the likelihood of mixed breeding between collared flycatchers and pied flycatchers. This allows for cohabitation and reduces competitive exclusion, which can help prevent extinction. Warmer springs enable species to adapt differently to environmental changes.
The BMC Ecology Image Competition 2017 has produced a diverse array of winning and highly commended images showcasing pressing issues in ecology. The competition highlights the intersection of art and science, with images capturing intricate species interactions, conservation efforts, and natural processes.
A new study by Kristian Berg and Mark Aronoff found that English suffix patterns can categorize words into grammatical categories, such as adjectives. The researchers analyzed a large sample of written English documents over 1,000 years, discovering consistent spellings for common suffixes like -ous and -ic.
A recent study from Queen Mary University of London found that sexually selected species can adapt faster to new environments, but only when population sizes are large. Competitive males pay a high price for their displays, increasing the risk of extinction when populations are small.
The BMC Ecology Image Competition 2016 featured a diverse range of images showcasing biodiversity, natural beauty, and biological interactions. Davide Gaglio's silhouette of antelope grazing against the sunrise in the Kalahari Desert won the top prize.
A new study using fossil records of planktonic foraminifera found that environmental changes control the number of species that can co-exist on Earth. The researchers analyzed the fossil history of 210 evolutionary species and discovered that the limit to species richness is environmentally dependent, varying with climate and geology.
Researchers in Switzerland conducted an empirical experiment proving that avoidance of competition and endogenosymbiosis drive the evolution of biological diversity. This contradicts traditional views suggesting that competition is the main driver of speciation.
Scientists have discovered two new giant bent-toed gecko species in New Guinea, one of which reaches up to 17 cm in length, making it the largest of its kind. The geckos, named 'king' and 'knight', exhibit unique characteristics such as dark grey-brown markings and alternating regions of coloration.
A new study finds that as climate warms, many plants face uphill struggle for survival due to competition from unknown species. Alpine plants perform poorly if new competitors move in, but migrate and adapt well when moving into new communities.
A new study reveals that competition from previously unknown plant species at lower elevations can be decisive for alpine plants in warmer climates. This finding challenges the assumption that higher temperatures are the primary effect of climate change on alpine species, instead highlighting the importance of competition.
A new study from NIMBioS reveals that contact rates and competition play crucial roles in determining the risk of parasitic disease outbreaks in animal communities. The research found that high contact rates and strong competition can amplify parasite fitness, increasing the likelihood of disease transmission.
Research reveals that male genitalia with spines increase fertilization success but injure female reproductive tracts. This can diminish the reproductive success of competing species and impact their demographic and evolutionary dynamics.
Scientists used fossil records and evolutionary models to show that sloth lineages increased in size by over 100 kilos every million years. This fast rate of evolution suggests environmental factors or competition with other species favored larger body sizes before they died out.
The BMC Ecology Image Competition showcases intimate moments of animals and plants, revealing their private lives. The competition captured stunning images of ecological interactions, including a Namaqua Rock Mouse pollinating the Pagoda Lily and an albatross feeding her chick.
A new ecological model, called a mean field model for competition, incorporates the 'Red Queen Effect' and improves understanding of species evolution. The model predicts that new species with competitive advantages will evolve and outcompete current species.
Researchers report a significant decline in Antarctic species due to increased iceberg activity, leaving only a single dominant species, Fenstrulina rugula. The study finds that climate change has reduced spatial competition and complexity in shallow waters, allowing nonindigenous species to colonize.
A University of Liverpool study found that male fruit flies kept in groups have shorter lives and are less desirable to females. The males' sleep patterns are disrupted, leading to early death, a phenomenon also observed in other species.
Researchers found that two Chilean barnacle species, Jehlius cirratus and Notochthalamus scabrosus, coexist without strong competition, even in different temperatures. The study's surprising non-finding may have implications for understanding the biological future of major coastlines.
A new study found that bird species living together are more similar than different, challenging a widely-held theory on species evolution. The research suggests that competition may not be the driving force behind species differences, instead promoting the evolution of similar traits.
Researchers discovered that some single-celled algae cheat on producing toxins to gain an advantage, contradicting the theory that cooperation should break down in such circumstances. The cheaters can survive and multiply while their 'honest' peers produce toxins, allowing them to invest energy into making more offspring.
Smithsonian researchers found fossil evidence of three to four species of seacows living together in different time periods, suggesting unique food sources and habitat structures. The discovery sheds light on the evolution of seacow habitats and raises questions about competition for resources.
New research shows bumblebees can learn where to find best food resources from both fellow bees and rival honeybees, challenging the idea that social learning is unique to same-species interactions.
Male fruitflies experience a prolonged mating period with females after encountering rival males, increasing the length of mating by up to 93% in some species. This 'paranoid' behavior is thought to ensure fertilization before females mate with other males.
A new mathematical model integrates key factors influencing sympatric speciation, finding strong mate choice and resource variety more important than competition. This approach generates insights into biological diversity, suggesting that speciation can occur under ideal conditions.
An 18-year study of 27,000 trees found that climate change is more sensitive to tree growth and fecundity than previously thought. Early spring warming and summer drought were identified as key factors affecting tree reproduction and growth. The study provides valuable insights into how climate change impacts specific tree species.
A laboratory study of microscopic organisms subjected to varying degrees of acoustic disturbance shows that competition can be a factor in regulating ecological communities regardless of the intensity or frequency of disturbance. The findings contradict the intermediate disturbance hypothesis, suggesting that there is a strong trade-of...
Research suggests that physical prowess was the key factor in human mate competition, with men competing for dominance and access to mates. Men are stronger than 99.9% of women, despite average differences in size, due to increased muscle mass.
A study of over 226,000 trees reveals that species respond differently to environmental fluctuations, contrary to previous findings. This discovery sheds light on the coexistence of competing tree species and has implications for understanding invasive species invasions.
Research reveals that birds, like humans, use language to settle disputes over resources. The study found that territorial songs of two antbird species were extremely similar, while non-territorial signals like calls and plumage diverged.
A large-scale analysis of over 80 terrestrial carnivore species in the Americas shows that avoidance strategies have driven their evolution. The study found that some species use coloration to warn predators, while others occupy different habitats or are active at different times.
In a study, researchers found that even slight differences between competing species can lead to the weakest being victorious in cyclical competitions. This phenomenon, known as the law of the weakest, was simulated using computer models and has implications for understanding evolution and ecosystem development.
Research suggests that increased competition between species for resources limits new species evolution, with rates of speciation slowing down over time. Studies analyzed bird family phylogenies and found a decrease in new species formation as the number of competitors increases.
Researchers compared two microbial killing mechanisms: chemical toxins and viral parasites. Chemical toxins are superior for resident defense against invaders, while viral parasites facilitate faster invasion when carriers are rare.
Researchers Rampal Etienne and Han Olff propose a novel framework linking local community diversity to ancestral immigration patterns. Their approach sheds light on the relationship between biodiversity and genetic diversity in ecosystems.
Researchers discovered that touching plants can affect insect feeding behavior, with some species experiencing increased leaf area loss and death when visited. The study suggests that future ecological studies should consider the potential effects of researcher interactions on plant biology.
A long-term study of a kelp forest community found that large-scale, low-frequency events like El Nino and La Nina drive changes in the community. The study also highlighted the importance of understanding how different species adapt to changing environmental conditions.
Researchers found that invasive non-native plants compete with native species for regeneration opportunities, inhibiting native tree seedlings and juveniles. Invasive species exhibit similar ecological roles as natives, posing a threat to conservation efforts.