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Niche breadth in Bryozoa as a test of competition theory

Nature volume 256, pages 307–309 (1975)Cite this article

Abstract

COMPETITION theory predicts that intraspecific and interspecific competition should often have opposite effects on the use of resources by a population, the former increasing, the latter decreasing, the range of resource actually used1,2. Field data supporting these predictions are well known for the interspecific case3,4 but are scarce for the intraspecific condition, and we have been unable to find any reference demonstrating both effects within a single species. We therefore report here the verification of both predictions in respect of competition for space by the epiphytic bryozoan Alcyonidium hirsutum; less extensive data suggesting the same effects within other bryozoans are also reported.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology and Marine Biology Station, The Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast, BT7 1NN, Northern Ireland

    R. J. O'CONNOR, P. J. S. BOADEN & R. SEED

Authors
  1. R. J. O'CONNOR
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  2. P. J. S. BOADEN
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  3. R. SEED
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O'CONNOR, R., BOADEN, P. & SEED, R. Niche breadth in Bryozoa as a test of competition theory. Nature 256, 307–309 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1038/256307a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/256307a0

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