Competition between two closely related Tetrabothrius cestodes of the fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis L.)

The two congeneic Tetrabothrius cestodes of the fulmar are so closely related that they can only be reliably distinguished by differences in the number of testes. The two species show a considerable distributional overlap along the intestine. Statistically it can be shown that high numbers of the common, anteriorly situated species (T. minor) affect the distribution of the rarer, more posteriorly situated species (T. procerus), causing the latter to occupy a more posterior site in the intestine. Several possibilities are discussed concerning the mechanism by which T. procerus is affected, and how this mildly competitive situation is maintained. It is probable that niche segregation between the two species is more or less complete, but that this is reinforced in concurrent infections by interactive site segregation.