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Related Experiment Video

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Quantification of Interbacterial Competition using Single-Cell Fluorescence Imaging

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Quantifying purported competition with individual- and population-level metrics.

Eric L Walters¹, Frances C James

¹Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4295, USA. elw78@cornell.edu

Conservation Biology : the Journal of the Society for Conservation Biology

|May 12, 2010

Summary

Removing Red-bellied Woodpeckers, thought to compete with endangered Red-cockaded Woodpeckers, paradoxically harmed the latter. This highlights that individual competitive interactions don't always predict population-level outcomes for species conservation.

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Area of Science:

Ecology
Conservation Biology
Behavioral Ecology

Background:

Interspecific competition can impact population dynamics, potentially affecting endangered species.
Red-bellied Woodpeckers (Melanerpes carolinus) and Red-cockaded Woodpeckers (Picoides borealis) are thought to compete for limited cavity resources in pine trees.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate if behavioral competition between Red-bellied Woodpeckers and Red-cockaded Woodpeckers affects Red-cockaded Woodpecker population fitness.
To determine if individual-level interactions translate to population-level consequences for an endangered species.

Main Methods:

Conducted a 4-year field study in the Apalachicola National Forest, Florida, comparing stable and declining Red-cockaded Woodpecker populations.
Implemented Red-bellied Woodpecker removal experiments in specific territories to assess impacts on Red-cockaded Woodpeckers.

Main Results:

Red-cockaded Woodpecker group size, nesting success, and territory retention decreased after Red-bellied Woodpecker removal.
Removal may have increased Red-bellied Woodpecker immigration, negatively impacting Red-cockaded Woodpeckers, especially in declining populations.
Population persistence in the Wakulla District was linked to high female turnover, exacerbated by Red-bellied Woodpecker removal.

Conclusions:

Observed competitive interactions at the individual level do not always predict population-level outcomes.
Removing a perceived competitor species can unexpectedly harm the species of conservation concern.
Conservation strategies should consider complex ecological interactions beyond simple competition.