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On testing the competition-colonization trade-off in a multispecies assemblage.

Marc William Cadotte1, Donny V Mai, Samuel Jantz

  • 1Complex Systems Group, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA. cadotte@lifesci.ucsb.edu

The American Naturalist
|November 3, 2006
PubMed
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Species coexistence relies on a competition-colonization trade-off, where organisms are either strong competitors or rapid colonizers, but not both. This fundamental ecological principle was demonstrated in a laboratory setting using protozoa and rotifers.

Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Community Ecology
  • Interspecific Interactions

Background:

  • The competition-colonization trade-off is a key mechanism proposed to explain species coexistence in diverse ecosystems.
  • Existing research primarily focuses on plants and their seed dispersal, with limited data on other taxa.
  • Colonization success involves not only dispersal but also rapid population growth, a factor often overlooked.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence and generality of the competition-colonization trade-off in non-plant species.
  • To determine if this trade-off extends to microbial assemblages in controlled environments.
  • To assess the roles of competitive ability and colonization capacity in species coexistence.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a standardized laboratory microcosm with protozoan and rotifer species.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Defined colonization as the capacity of a species to establish populations in unoccupied patches.
  • Quantified competitive interactions through pairwise assays and ranked species based on colonization and competitive abilities.

    • Main Results:

    • Demonstrated a clear competition-colonization trade-off within the tested protozoan and rotifer assemblage.
    • Species were found to be either superior competitors or effective colonizers, but not both.
    • The findings support the existence of this trade-off beyond plant systems.

    Conclusions:

    • The competition-colonization trade-off is a valid ecological mechanism applicable to non-plant species, including microscopic organisms.
    • Even in simplified laboratory settings, species exhibit inherent trade-offs that influence their ecological strategies.
    • This study broadens the understanding of factors promoting species coexistence in structured environments.