Submission Type
Poster
Abstract
Ecological competition is seen throughout the environment, but effects of competition may be complex for generalist consumers with broader niche requirements. We observed Hyalella azteca and Gammarus spp. in the same and separate mesocosms to determine their levels of coexistence and resource use. Starting populations of ten Hyalella and Gammarus were added to ten mesocosms with a single species present as well as both species to an additional ten mesocosms. For each of these ten mesocosms in the three treatments, five were supplied one gram of leaf matter and five were supplied with five grams of leaf matter. After six weeks populations began to grow and become highly variable. Gammarus showed no significant competition effects, however Hyalella showed a significant decrease when under conditions of a limited food source of one gram.
Included in
Amphipod cage match: Competition between Hyalella azteca and Gammarus spp. is mediated by resource availability
Ecological competition is seen throughout the environment, but effects of competition may be complex for generalist consumers with broader niche requirements. We observed Hyalella azteca and Gammarus spp. in the same and separate mesocosms to determine their levels of coexistence and resource use. Starting populations of ten Hyalella and Gammarus were added to ten mesocosms with a single species present as well as both species to an additional ten mesocosms. For each of these ten mesocosms in the three treatments, five were supplied one gram of leaf matter and five were supplied with five grams of leaf matter. After six weeks populations began to grow and become highly variable. Gammarus showed no significant competition effects, however Hyalella showed a significant decrease when under conditions of a limited food source of one gram.
