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The ecological causes of individual specialisation
Márcio S Araújo1, Daniel I Bolnick, Craig A Layman
1Marine Sciences Program, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33181, USA. msaraujo@rc.unesp.br
Ecology Letters
|July 28, 2011
Summary
Individual specialisation, where generalist populations comprise specialized individuals, is common. Recent quantitative studies reveal its magnitude depends on competition and ecological factors, impacting population dynamics.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Behavioral Ecology
Background:
- Generalist populations often consist of individuals with specialized ecological niches.
- Individual specialisation (IS) is a widespread phenomenon, but its magnitude and variation across populations remain underquantified.
- Understanding IS is crucial for ecological and evolutionary dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent quantitative studies on individual specialisation.
- To explore how ecological factors influence the magnitude of IS.
- To highlight the need for research on the community-level effects of IS.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent literature focusing on quantitative measures of diet variation.
- Analysis of experimental and comparative studies investigating IS.
- Synthesis of findings on ecological drivers and consequences of IS.
Main Results:
- Quantitative measures reveal IS magnitude is influenced by intra- and interspecific competition, ecological opportunity, and predation.
- Experimental and comparative studies confirm theoretical predictions regarding IS drivers.
- Limited empirical data exists on how IS affects community dynamics.
Conclusions:
- Individual specialisation is a significant ecological factor shaped by competition and resource availability.
- Further research is needed to understand the community-level impacts of individual specialisation.
- Methodological advancements are guiding future research in this field.
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