Ecology : competition

[Balwyn]

Can anyone tell me how to judge whether there is a DIRECT competition between different species? THX

[JackBean]

to be it a direct competition, they probably have to share a resource or niche, right?

[animartco]

Can anyone tell me how to judge whether there is a DIRECT competition between different species? THX

If the larger species is seen to be shoving the smaller off the food and eating it themselves. ex. lions hyenas vultures, and jackals round a carcass. or magpies and sparrows at a bird table.

[JorgeLobo]

The criteria should be boradly applicable - from bacteria to animals. One consideration could be pursuit of same food source/substrate in the same context.

[Juliesmile62]

Can someone tell me what a "mode of endeavor niche" is

[JorgeLobo]

Sounds like someone trying to coin a phrase. Where did you hear it?

[Juliesmile62]

In an article in the Smithsonian, written by Bil Gilbert aug 1987. He writes " Most creatures locate in places and find unique ways of exploiting them so as to reduce the need to with other similar appetites. Biologists call these special fields and modes of endeavor niches."

[JorgeLobo]

seems something is kissing - ...to reduce the need to with?

can you give a refernce please?

[Juliesmile62]

Reduce the need to vie with others of similar appetites

Bil Gilbert, "Lizards that take to the desert like ducks to water" Smithsonian, (Aug. 1987), 78

[animartco]

In an article in the Smithsonian, written by Bil Gilbert aug 1987. He writes " Most creatures locate in places and find unique ways of exploiting them so as to reduce the need to with other similar appetites. Biologists call these special fields and modes of endeavor niches."

I haven;'t read the quote but I think it means cases like humming birds and their particular flowers. Where you have two similar species competing for the same basic food, they evolve to source it differently. ex one has a long beak for a long flower and another has a curved beak for a curved flower, so that they are not in direct competition for the same food-nectar.

[Juliesmile62]

Thank you, just needed to verify