Competition Dynamics in Invertebrates Across Geographical Gradients

Abstract

Studying competition dynamics of invertebrate species is essential to understanding species distribution, how species become invasive, and dealing with pests and pollinators. However, there is a gap in the literature when it comes to what geographical factors influence invertebrate competition. This study investigates competition dynamics of terrestrial invertebrates across various ecosystems and geographical areas, as well potential predictors for the patterns observed. I used food lures across sites in multiple countries, and recorded the number of visitors and level of consumption to attribute a competition score to each lure. Three different food types were used to account for dietary preferences (Fat, Protein, and Sugar). The results show that there is a significant variation of competition scores across sites. In addition, I identified a significant statistical interaction between sites and food types in relation to competition scores, which suggests that competition is different between the sites, but the pattern of variation differs per food type. A regression was conducted to see if Net Primary Productivity or the geological age of an ecosystem were predictors of the variation in competition scores. Geological age came out statistically significant for the scores in the Fat food type, suggesting that it may be an important driver for invertebrate competition. Idiosyncrasies of the sites are discussed with the aim to identify other factors that may affect competition levels and their patterns. This research contributes to the study of competition dynamics in terrestrial invertebrates and could inspire an approach to predicting interactions and effects of new or introduced species.