Predicting Coexistence in Species with Continuous Ontogenetic Niche Shifts and Competitive Asymmetry

Abstract

ABSTRACTA longstanding problem in ecology is whether structured life cycles impede or facilitate coexistence between species. Theory based on populations with two discrete stages in the life-cycle indicates that coexistence requires at least one species to shift its niche between stages and that each species is a better competitor in one of the niches. However, in many cases, niche shifts are associated with changes in an underlying continuous trait like organism size and we have few predictions for how the conditions for coexistence are affected by this type of ontogenetic dynamics. Here we develop a framework for analyzing species coexistence based on Integral Projection Models (IPMs) that incorporates continuous ontogenetic changes in both the resource niche and competitive ability. We parameterize the model using experimental data from Trinidadian guppies and make predictions about how niche shifts and competitive symmetries allow or prevent species coexistence. Overall, our results show that the effects of competition on fitness depend upon trait-mediated niche-separation, trait-mediated competitive asymmetry in the part of the niche that is shared across body sizes, and the sensitivity of fitness to body size. When all three conditions are considered, we find multiple ecological and evolutionary routes to coexistence. When both species can shift their niche with increasing body size and competition for resources among the species and sizes is symmetric, then the species that shifts its niche to a greater degree with ontogeny will competitively exclude the other species. When competitive ability increases with increasing body size, then the two species can coexist when the better competitor shifts its niche with body size to a lesser degree than the weaker competitior. This region of coexistence shrinks as the better competitor increasingly shifts its niche with increasing size. When both species shift their niches with size, but each is a better competitor on resources used by smaller or larger individuals, then the model predicts an alternative stable state over some range of niche shifts. We discuss how our results provide new insights into species coexistence and the evolutionary consequences of size-structured interspecific competition.