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Download fileSwitching strategies, population dynamics, and mechanisms of co-existence in food webs with Jekyll-and-Hyde species
journal contribution
posted on 2013-11-22, 00:00 authored by Paul A. Orlando, Joel S. Brown, Howard E. Jr. Buhse, Christopher J. WhelanDefinition: Intra-guild predators prey on members of other species that belong to the same guild.
Question: What are the effects of polymorphic intra-guild predators on population dynamics
and diversity?
Mathematical method: We use differential equations to model a specific form of trophic
polymorphism where the polymorphic species is an intra-guild predator. This species can switch between two morphs – Jekyll, which competes with the intra-guild prey for a shared resource, and Hyde, which preys on the intra-guild prey. For generality, we explore two different food web arrangements (with and without cannibalism of Hyde on Jekyll) and two different switching strategies (constant and variable).
Key assumptions: We assume that switching between the morphs occurs continuously and in
both directions. We also assume that switching is cost-free.
Conclusions: Switching in general stabilizes population dynamics, except in the case of the cannibalistic food web with variable switching. Population subsidies from one morph to the other create ecological opportunity for a specialist species with identical ecology as the subsidizing morph. Switching enhances opportunities for co-existence with the intra-guild prey when Hyde subsidizes Jekyll. However, when Jekyll subsidizes Hyde, opportunities for co-existence with the intra-guild prey are diminished.
History
Publisher Statement
This is a copy of an article published in the Evolutionary Ecology Research © 2011 Evolutionary Ecology.Publisher
Evolutionary EcologyLanguage
- en_US