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DNA analysis on fox faeces and competition induced niche shifts
Author(s) -
DALÉN LOVE,
ELMHAGEN BODIL,
ANGERBJÖRN ANDERS
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
molecular ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.619
H-Index - 225
eISSN - 1365-294X
pISSN - 0962-1083
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2004.02249.x
Subject(s) - biology , niche , competition (biology) , feces , ecological niche , ecology , niche differentiation , dna , evolutionary biology , zoology , genetics , habitat
Interference competition can force inferior competitors to change their distribution patterns. It is, however, possible that the dominant competitor poses a higher threat during certain times of the year, for example during reproduction. In such cases, the inferior competitor is expected to change its distribution accordingly. We used a molecular species identification method on faeces to investigate how the spatial overlap between arctic and red foxes changes between seasons. The results show that arctic and red foxes are sympatric during winter, but allopatric in summer as arctic foxes retreat to higher altitudes further from the tree‐line during the breeding season.