Heterogeneity in Primary Productivity Influences Competitive Interactions between Red Deer and Alpine Chamois

PloS One
Pia AnderwaldFlurin Filli

Abstract

Habitat heterogeneity can promote coexistence between herbivores of different body size limited to different extents by resource quantity and quality. Red deer (Cervus elaphus) are known as superior competitors to smaller species with similar diets. We compared competitive interactions and habitat use between red deer and Alpine chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) in two adjacent valleys in a strictly protected area in the Central Alps. Red deer density was higher in the valley with higher primary productivity. Only here was horn growth in kid and yearling chamois (as a measure for body condition) negatively correlated with red deer population size, suggesting interspecific competition, and chamois selected meadows with steeper slopes and lower productivity than available on average. Conversely, red deer selected meadows of high productivity, particularly in the poorer area. As these were located mainly at lower elevations, this led to strong altitudinal segregation between the two species here. Local differences in interspecific competition thus coincided with differences in habitat preference and-segregation between areas. This suggests that spatial habitat and resource heterogeneity at the scale of adjacent valleys can provide com...Continue Reading

References

May 17, 2006·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·Nathalie PettorelliNils Chr Stenseth
Aug 23, 2006·The Journal of Animal Ecology·Ivar HerfindalKjell Arild Høgda
Nov 9, 2006·Ecology·William A Link, Richard J Barker
Aug 6, 2009·Journal of Medical Toxicology : Official Journal of the American College of Medical Toxicology·Christian Tomaszewski
Dec 25, 2009·Oecologia·Emmanuelle RichardFrançois Klein
Nov 16, 2010·The Journal of Animal Ecology·Marco Rughetti, Marco Festa-Bianchet
May 1, 1989·Oecologia·I J Gordon, A W Illius
Feb 1, 1990·Oecologia·W F de Boer, H H T Prins

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jun 8, 2018·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·An C HsiungRichard B Chandler
Jul 13, 2020·Integrative Zoology·Francesco Ferretti, Niccolò Fattorini
May 17, 2021·Global Change Biology·Rudolf ReinerLuca Corlatti
Jul 1, 2021·Ecology and Evolution·Valerio DoniniLuca Corlatti

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Software Mentioned

ArcGIS
R
AICcmodavg

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome

Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) is a rare genetic disorder of abnormal lymphocyte survival caused by defective Fas mediated apoptosis. Discover the latest research on ALPS here.

Related Papers

Zoology : Analysis of Complex Systems, ZACS
Luca CorlattiSimona Imperio
Australian Veterinary Journal
J J Fyffe, M J Fyffe
Journal of Comparative Pathology
R M BarlowD PURVES
New Zealand Veterinary Journal
D W Stewart
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved