Predation-competition interactions for seasonally recruiting species

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Population Dynamics
• Theoretical Ecology

Background:

• Species coexistence is a fundamental ecological question.
• Life-history traits, such as productivity and survival, can influence population dynamics.
• Predation and competition are key factors structuring ecological communities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the interacting effects of predation and competition on species coexistence.
• To explore the role of life-history parameters in fluctuation-dependent coexistence.
• To model seasonal recruitment dynamics in a constant environment.

Main Methods:

• Developed a mathematical model for seasonally recruiting species.
• Analyzed the conditions for species coexistence under predation and competition.
• Incorporated nonlinearities in population growth rates and endogenous fluctuations.

Main Results:

• Life-history traits introduce nonlinearities, enabling coexistence via 'relative nonlinearity'.
• Predation can undermine coexistence by reducing species variance contrasts.
• Predation can enable coexistence by destabilizing equilibrium when competition is insufficient.

Conclusions:

• Species coexistence is sensitive to the interplay between competition, predation, and life-history traits.
• Relative nonlinearity, driven by life-history trade-offs, is a key mechanism for coexistence.
• Predation's impact on coexistence is context-dependent, potentially disrupting or facilitating it.