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The effects of metapopulation structure on indirect interactions in host-parasitoid assemblages
1Department of Biology and Natural Environment Research Council Centre for Population Biology, Imperial College at Silwood Park, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7PY, UK. m.bonsall@ic.ac.uk
Proceedings. Biological Sciences
|June 21, 2001
Summary
Apparent competition between two hosts sharing a parasitoid can lead to species exclusion. Metapopulation structure, however, can promote coexistence by uncoupling host dynamics in space.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Population Dynamics
- Theoretical Ecology
Background:
- Apparent competition occurs when two species share a natural enemy, potentially leading to exclusion.
- Metapopulation dynamics are crucial for understanding species persistence in fragmented habitats.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how metapopulation structure affects apparent competition between two host species and a shared parasitoid.
- To explore the conditions promoting species coexistence and patch occupancy patterns at the metapopulation level.
Main Methods:
- Development of a coupled-map lattice model to simulate a three-species interaction (two hosts, one parasitoid).
- Analysis of local and regional dynamics to understand species coexistence and spatial distribution.
Main Results:
- Metapopulation structure, by uncoupling local dynamics, favors coexistence.
- Coexistence is promoted when the inferior host species acts as either a fugitive or sedentary species.
- The relative dispersal of the inferior host influences which coexistence mechanism prevails.
Conclusions:
- Spatial dynamics introduced by metapopulation structure can stabilize apparent competition.
- Fugitive or sedentary strategies, influenced by dispersal, are key for inferior species survival in apparent competition systems.
- This study highlights the importance of spatial structure in maintaining biodiversity.
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