Premium
Coexistence, Coevolution and Convergent Evolution in Seabird Communities: A Comment
Author(s) -
Bedard Jean
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.2307/1936409
Subject(s) - seabird , coevolution , ecology , geography , argument (complex analysis) , trait , economic geography , biology , computer science , predation , biochemistry , programming language
A recent article paralleling two seabird (Alcidae) communities of the North Pacific and the North Atlantic oceans in reviewed critically. The quantitative basis upon which the argument of spatial segregation is based is demonstrated to be ethereal at best. Doubts are also raised about the appropriateness of comparing a fragment of a large North Pacific community, lacking many of its important elements, with an entire North Atlantic one. The model of ecological segregation proposed for these birds in burdened with shortcomings and cannot adequately describe any significant trait of the organization of the bird communities involved.