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Some Comments on Measuring Niche Overlap
Author(s) -
Abrams Peter
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.2307/1937153
Subject(s) - niche , intraspecific competition , competition (biology) , interspecific competition , ecology , ecological niche , niche segregation , niche differentiation , biology , habitat
This article discusses the usefulness of niche overlap and niche overlap measures in studying competition. It is argued that (1) neither niche overlap nor niche overlap measures can be used to estimate the intensity of competition, but (2) niche overlap can be used to determine the relative amounts of inter— and intraspecific competition, while niche overlap measures are not useful in this regard. Before using overlap to estimate the relative intensities of inter— and intraspecific competition, it is necessary to have a model of the consumer—resource interaction, and some knowledge of the parameters in that model. The niche overlap and competition coefficient formulae proposed by Hurlbert (1978) are considered in some detail. Previously proposed niche overlap measures appear to be more useful than Hurlbert s if one is interested in using the niche overlap measure for purely descriptive purposes.