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Competition between kingdoms
1Michael Hochberg and John Lawton are at the Centre for Population Biology, Imperial College at Silwood Park, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7PY, UK.
Trends in Ecology & Evolution
|January 15, 2011
Summary
Ecological competition often occurs between different kingdoms, not just related species. This inter-kingdom competition, especially between insect parasitoids and pathogens, is common but understudied.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Traditional ecological studies focus on competition between closely related species.
- Ecological systems exhibit competition across diverse taxa, including different phyla and kingdoms.
- Inter-kingdom competition is a widespread but underexplored ecological interaction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the prevalence of inter-kingdom competition in natural ecosystems.
- To emphasize the need for further research into the ecological and evolutionary consequences of inter-kingdom competition.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing ecological literature on interspecific competition.
- Analysis of documented cases of competition between different kingdoms, focusing on host-parasite-pathogen interactions.
Main Results:
- Inter-kingdom competition is a common phenomenon in nature.
- Insect parasitoids and pathogens from four other kingdoms frequently compete for shared hosts.
- The ecological and evolutionary implications of these interactions are largely unexplored.
Conclusions:
- Inter-kingdom competition represents a significant area for future ecological and evolutionary research.
- Understanding these interactions is crucial for a comprehensive view of community dynamics and host-pathogen evolution.
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