Competition along a spatial gradient of resource supply: a microbial experimental model

The American Naturalist
C T Codeço, J P Grover

Abstract

In a set of laboratory experiments, we examined competition for phosphorus between algae and bacteria under various carbon:phosphorus (C:P) supply ratios in spatially homogeneous and heterogeneous microcosms. Experimental results were compared to those predicted by theoretical models of resource competition. In the spatially heterogeneous microcosm, algae that were inferior competitors for P persisted in vessels with high local C:P supply ratios that would cause exclusion in the spatially homogeneous microcosms. Resource competition theory, adapted to this system, provided a starting point for explaining these results. Spatial structure can enhance local diversity because locally inferior competitors are transported from source habitats into sink habitats where they would otherwise be excluded. Such local sources were determined by their resource supply ratios. These results verify the hypothesis that spatial processes enhance local diversity when a system of local habitats is divided into sources and sinks in such a way that each persisting species has at least one source within the system. However, existing theoretical models did not accurately predict distributions of competitor abundance within this experimental system.

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Citations

Sep 14, 2010·Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology·Alan T Bull
Dec 4, 2003·Theoretical Population Biology·Irakli LoladzeWilliam F Fagan
Nov 18, 2008·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Hyun Jung KimRustem F Ismagilov
Oct 1, 2013·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Xiao Yi, Antony M Dean
Jan 2, 2009·The American Naturalist·James P Grover
Jan 17, 2008·The American Naturalist·Daniel L Roelke, Peter M Eldridge
Sep 2, 2006·The American Naturalist·Kurt E AndersonSebastian Diehl
Apr 12, 2007·The American Naturalist·J Bastow WilsonJef Huisman
Aug 19, 2008·The American Naturalist·James G Mitchell
Aug 19, 2008·Ecology·Jérôme GuélatNicolas Perrin
Nov 3, 2009·Journal of Theoretical Biology·Kenneth W Crane, James P Grover
Dec 4, 2012·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·Michel LoreauNicolas Mouquet
Jul 1, 2004·Theoretical Population Biology·Toshiyuki Namba, Chiemi Hashimoto
Aug 13, 2004·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Priyanga Amarasekare
Feb 8, 2003·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Priyanga Amarasekare

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