Geneviève K. Smith

Cryptic Species Coexistence | Damselfly Wing Morphometrics
Dating Shakespeare | Flu Visualization | Forest Resilience

Measuring Niche Overlap in a Cryptic Species Complex.

Most ecological theory is built on the idea that species must occupy different niches in order to coexist with one another. However, there are plenty of instances where highly similar species can be found together. Are they really coexisting? Are there subtle niche differences at work? Or is their co-occurrence merely a transient state?

Using a group of freshwater crustacean species (Hyalella azteca amphipods), that can only be identified using genetic tools, we can start to assess just how similar co-occurring competitors can be.

Using experimental mesocosms I hope to determine just how important the observed niche differences are between these species for maintaining their co-occurrence. This work was done at the W.K. Kellogg Biological Station of Michigan State University.

Experimental cattle tank setup at Michigan State's Kellog Biological Station. For this particular experiment, some tanks sit on a shallow slope to recreate the depth variation found in ponds, while others are set up on flatter ground thereby reducing the amount of ecosystem structure species might rely on for stable coexistence.