Summary
The ecological overlap of three species of Hawaiian Drosophila: D. mimica D. kambysellisi, and D. imparisetae, has been investigated by analysis of the community matrix. The basic model is a Lotka-Volterra formulation, suitably expanded to include sexual dimorphism. We have also investigated equilibrium population sizes and stability properties of all possible communities which might be constructed from these species. Our findings are:
-
1)
There is considerable ecological diversification among these species and between sexes of the same species.
-
2)
The two sexes of any one species overlap more than does either with other components of the community.
-
3)
The two sibling species, D. mimica and D. kambysellisi overlap the least, and D. imparisetae is ecologically intermediate.
-
4)
The current three-species community supports greater numbers than would be maintained by any of the one- or two-species alternatives, and appears to make more efficient use of the available resources.
-
5)
The present community is numerically stable. Although its taxonomic saturation is difficult to judge with certainty, it appears to be unsaturated.
-
6)
The simpler communities would all be invasible by the remaining species. The implications for sympatric speciation of D. mimica and D. kambysellisi are discussed. It is suggested that D. imparisetae might have acted as an ecological wedge, contributing to ecological displacement, reproductive isolation, and further species packing.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Carson, H. L.: Chromosome tracers of the origin of species. Science 168, 1414–1418 (1970)
Carson, H. L., Hardy, D. E., Spieth, H. T., Stone, W. S.: The evolutionary biology of the Hawaiian Drosophilidae. In: Essays in evolution and genetics, M. K. Hecht, W. C. Steere, eds., p. 437–544. New York: Appleton Century-Crofts 1970
Colwell, R. K., Futuyma, D. J.: On the measurement of niche breadth and overlap. Ecology 52, 567–576 (1971)
Grossfield, J.: Visual stimuli in the biology of the Hawaiian Drosophila. In: Studies in genetics, vol. IV, M. R. Wheeler, ed., Univ. Texas Publ. No. 6818, p. 301–317 (1968)
Hardy, D. E.: Insects of Hawaii, vol. 12, Diptera: Cyclorrhapha II, Series Schizophora, Section Acalypterae. I. Family Drosophilidae, 814 pp. Honolulu: Univ. Hawaii Press 1965
Hardy, D. E., Kaneshiro, K.: Descriptions of new Hawaiian Drosophila. In: Studies in genetics, vol. V, M. R. Wheeler, ed., Univ. Texas Publ. No. 6918, p. 39–54 (1969)
Heed, W. B.: Ecology of the Hawaiian Drosophilidae. In: Studies in genetics, vol. IV, M. R. Wheeler, ed., Univ. Texas Publ. No. 6818, p. 387–419 (1968)
Lawlor, L. R., Maynard-Smith, J.: The coevolution and stability of competing species. Amer. Natur. (in press)
Levins, R.: Evolution in changing environments, 120 pp. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton Univ. Press 1968
MacArthur, R. H.: Patterns of species diversity. Biol. Rev. 40, 510–533 (1965)
MacArthur, R. H.: Species packing and competitive equilibrium for many species. J. Theor. Biol. 1, 1–11 (1970)
MacArthur, R. H., Wilson, E. O.: The theory of island biogeography 203 pp. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton Univ. Press 1967
May, R. M.: Stability and complexity in model ecosystems, 235 pp. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton Univ. Press 1973
Maynard-Smith, J.: Sympatric speciation. Amer. Natur. 100, 637–650 (1966)
Pielou, E. C.: Niche width and niche overlap: A method for measuring them. Ecology 53, 687–692 (1972)
Putwain, P. D., Harper, J. L.: Studies in the dynamics of plant populations. V. Mechanisms governing the sex ratio in Rumex acetosa and R. acetosella. J. Ecology 60, 113–129 (1972)
Richardson, R. H.: Effects of dispersal, habitat selection, and competition on a speciation pattern of Drosophila endemic to Hawaii. In: Genetic mechanisms of speciation in insects, M. J. D. White, ed., p. 140–164. Sydney: Australia and New Zealand Book 1974
Richardson, R. H., Johnston, J. S.: Behavioral components of dispersal in Drosophila mimica. Oecologia (Berl.) 20, 287–299 (1975a)
Richardson, R. H., Johnston, J. S.: Ecological specialization of Hawaiian Drosophila. I. Habitat selection in Kipuka Puaulu. Oecologia (Berl.) 21, 193–204 (1975b)
Schoener, T. W.: The ecological significance of sexual dimorphism in size of the lizard Anolis conspersus. Science 155, 474–477 (1967)
Smouse, P. E.: The evolutionary advantages of sexual dimorphism. Theo. Pop. Biol. 2, 469–481 (1971)
Spieth, H. T.: Courtship behavior of endemic Hawaiian Drosophila. In: Studies in genetics, vol. III, M. R. Wheeler, ed., Univ. Texas Publ. No. 6615, p. 245–313 (196)
Strobeck, C.: N-species competition. Ecology 54, 650–654 (1973)
Throckmorton, L. H.: The relationships of the endemic Hawaiian Drosophilidae. In: Studies in genetics, vol. III, M. R. Wheeler, ed., Univ. Texas Publ. No. 6615, p. 335–396 (1966)
Vandermeer, J. H.: The community matrix and the number of species in a community. Amer. Natur. 104, 73–83 (1970)
Yoon, J. S., Resch, K., Wheeler, M. R.: Cytogenetic relationships in Hawaiian species of Drosophila. II. The Drosophila mimica subgroup of the “modified mouthparts” species group. In: Studies in genetics, vol. VII, M. R. Wheeler, ed., Univ. Texas Publ. No. 7213, p. 201–212 (1972)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Supported by AEC AT-(40-1)-4023.
Supported by NIH Research Career Development Award GM 47350.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Richardson, R.H., Smouse, P.E. Ecological specialization of Hawaiian Drosophila . Oecologia 22, 1–13 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00345255
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00345255