An environmental habitat gradient and within-habitat segregation enable co-existence of ecologically similar bird species.

ABSTRACT: Niche theory predicts that ecologically similar species can coexist through multidimensional niche partitioning. However, owing to the challenges of accounting for both abiotic and biotic processes in ecological niche modelling, the underlying mechanisms that facilitate coexistence of competing species are poorly understood. In this study, we evaluated potential mechanisms underlying the coexistence of ecologically similar bird species in a biodiversity-rich transboundary montane forest in east-central Africa by computing niche overlap indices along an environmental elevation gradient, diet, forest strata, activity patterns and within-habitat segregation across horizontal space. We found strong support for abiotic environmental habitat niche partitioning, with 55% of species pairs having s

SUBMITTER: Ayebare S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10427832 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature