The coexistence of seven sympatric fulvettas in Ailao Mountains, Ejia Town, Yunnan Province.
The coexistence of ecologically similar species sharing sympatric areas is a central issue of community ecology. Niche differentiation is required at least in one dimension to avoid competitive exclusion. From 2012-2014, by adopting the methods of mist-nets and point counts to evaluate spatial niche partitioning and morphological differentiations, we explored the coexistence mechanisms of seven sympatric fulvettas in Ailao Mountains, Ejia town, Yunnan Province, China. The microhabitats of these seven fulvettas were significantly different in elevation, roost site height and vegetation coverage, indicating a spatial niche segregation in different levels. Approximately, 90.30% of the samples were correctly classified by linear discriminant analysis (LDA) with correct rates at 91.20%-100%, except the White-browed fulvetta (Alcippe vinipectus) (65.4%) and the Streak-throated fulvetta (A. cinereiceps) (74.6%). The seven fulvettas were classified into four guilds based on their specific morphological characters, suggesting that the species in each guild use their unique feeding ways to realize resource partitioning in the overlapped areas. These finding indicate that through multi-dimensional spatial niche segregation and divergence in resource utilizing, the inter-specific competition among these seven fulvettas is minimized, whereas, coexistence is promoted.
State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China;University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China;3 Shuangbai Ailaoshan Nature Reserve Management Bureau, Shuangbai, Yunnan 675107, China.
Ji
J
Xia
State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China.
Fei
F
Wu
State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China;University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China;3 Shuangbai Ailaoshan Nature Reserve Management Bureau, Shuangbai, Yunnan 675107, China.
Wan-Zhao
WZ
Hu
Shuangbai Ailaoshan Nature Reserve Management Bureau, Shuangbai, Yunnan 675107, China.
Jian-Ling
JL
Fang
State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China. yangxj@mail.kiz.ac.cn.
Xiao-Jun
XJ
Yang
D063147:Animal Distribution / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D002681:China; D017753:Ecosystem; D046109:Passeriformes / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D013045:Species Specificity
Ailao Mountains; Coexistence; Fulvettas; Niche segregation