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DENSITY‐DEPENDENT COEXISTENCE IN FISH COMMUNITIES
Author(s) -
McCann Kevin
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.1890/0012-9658(1998)079[2957:ddcifc]2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - competition (biology) , intraspecific competition , resource (disambiguation) , ecology , life history theory , competition model , fish <actinopterygii> , biology , life history , parameterized complexity , set (abstract data type) , taxon , density dependence , econometrics , mathematics , computer science , economics , fishery , microeconomics , population , combinatorics , demography , profit (economics) , computer network , sociology , programming language
A set of stage‐structured competition models is considered. The models are parameterized using allometric relationships specific to four fish life history strategies, constraining the model to biologically plausible regions in parameter space. Using a coupled consumer–resource competition model, I get the paradoxical result that two populations can coexist in equilibrium on an identical resource base, without recourse to temporal or spatial partitioning. In contrast to much theory on limiting similarity, the model also predicts that fish populations of similar life history strategies can coexist in equilibrium with complete resource overlap. This form of coexistence (called density‐dependent coexistence) requires that life history strategies differ such that an advantage at one stage of the life cycle implies a disadvantage at another stage in the life cycle. These exact life history trade‐offs appear in small‐bodied fish. Furthermore, it is postulated that this result may be applicable to other taxa.