Abstract
Niche overlap measures have been used extensively by ecologists, but until recently it was not possible to evaluate whether calculated overlap values differed significantly from chance expectations. We provide test statistics and a method for calculating confidence intervals for 3 overlap measures based on: (1) the likelihood ratio statistic; (2) the chi-square goodness-of-fit statistic; and (3) the Freeman-Tukey statistic. We also provide a means of calculating confidence intervals for 3 other commonly used measures, (4) the percentage similarity index; (5) Morisita’s adjusted measure; and (6) an information theory index.
Comparing the measures for different values of N (total sample size of all resources) and r (number of different resource categories), we recommend an N of at least 100 for accurate results. Above this value, changes in N and r have a lessened effect on the results. Of the 6 measures, we recommend the overlap equation based on the Freeman-Tukey statistic, primarily because the variance estimates do not depend on the resource data set, but on the measure itself. Using our methods one can (a) compare a calculated overlap value with any specified value (e.g., does it differ from 1.00, 0.9, etc.), (b) compare overlap values for the same species at different times (e.g., day versus night, day one versus day two, etc.).
The second part of this contribution considers the origin of morphological diversity. A simple model suggests that interspecific competition is not necessary for the origin of specific differences among closely related taxa. Species diversity can occur simply from: (1) separation of one population into genetically isolated units; (2) sufficient time for the evolution of species-specific differences; and (3) sympatry of the original population. We discuss the need to distinguish between long-term, population isolation leading to speciation, versus short-term adaptation of closely related taxa. Only by evaluating the role of time can we interpret the meaning of morphological diversity.
What birds can have their bills more peculiarly formed than the ibis, the spoonbill, and the heron? Yet they may be seen side by side, picking up the same food from the shallow water on the beach; and upon opening their stomachs, we find the same little crustácea and shellfish in them all.
From A.R. Wallace, ‘A Narrative of Travels on the Amazon and Rio Negro’, second edition of 1899, Dover Publications. p. 59.
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Zaret, T.M., Smith, E.P. (1984). On measuring niches and not measuring them. In: Zaret, T.M. (eds) Evolutionary ecology of neotropical freshwater fishes. Developments in environmental biology of fishes, vol 3. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-7682-6_9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-7682-6_9
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