Realized trophic niche driven by apparent competition an example with marsupials

• Published in: Biotropica Vol. 49; no. 6; pp. 832 - 837
• Main Authors: Kuhnen, Vanessa V., de Aguiar, Marcus A. Martinez, Gonçalves, Ana Z., Setz, Eleonore Z. F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley 01.11.2017; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Abundance; Biological competition; Competition; Competitors; Didelphis aurita; diet overlap; Ecosystems; Empirical analysis; Environmental changes; Habitat loss; Hunting; Marsupials; Mathematical models; Metachirus nudicaudatus; Model testing; Niches; Population growth; predator loss; Predators; Prey; Species; top predator; top prey abundance

According to apparent competition theory, the co-occurrence of two species that share the same predators appears to affect each other’s population growth and abundance. However, due to habitat loss and over-hunting, top predators are being made rare worldwide. Considering that apparent competitors s...