Specific sequence of arrival promotes coexistence via spatial niche pre-emption by the weak competitor

Autor(es)

Fragata, Ines ; Costa-Pereira, Raul ; Kozak, Mariya ; Majer, Agnieszka ; Godoy, Oscar ; Magalhaes, Sara

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: ECOLOGY LETTERS; v. 25, n. 7, p. 11-pg., 2022-05-21.

Resumo

Historical contingency, such as the order of species arrival, can modify competitive outcomes via niche modification or pre-emption. However, how these mechanisms ultimately modify stabilising niche and average fitness differences remains largely unknown. By experimentally assembling two congeneric spider mite species feeding on tomato plants during two generations, we show that order of arrival affects species' competitive ability and changes the outcome of competition. Contrary to expectations, order of arrival did not cause positive frequency dependent priority effects. Instead, coexistence was predicted when the inferior competitor (Tetranychus urticae) arrived first. In that case, T. urticae colonised the preferred feeding stratum (leaves) of T. evansi leading to spatial niche pre-emption, which equalised fitness and reduced niche differences, driving community assembly to a close-to-neutrality scenario. Our study demonstrates how the order of species arrival and the spatial context of competitive interactions may jointly determine whether species can coexist. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 20/11953-2 - Ecos da desigualdade socioeconômica na biodiversidade (IneqBio)
• Beneficiário: Raul Costa Pereira
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Jovens Pesquisadores