Shell resource partitioning as a mechanism of coexistence in two co-occurring terrestrial hermit crab species

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Steibl, Sebastian ; Laforsch, Christian:
Shell resource partitioning as a mechanism of coexistence in two co-occurring terrestrial hermit crab species.
In: BMC Ecology. Bd. 20 (2020) . - 1.
ISSN 1472-6785
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12898-019-0268-2

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Abstract

Coexistence is enabled by ecological differentiation of the co-occurring species. One possible mechanism thereby is resource partitioning, where each species utilizes a distinct subset of the most limited resource. This resource partitioning is difficult to investigate using empirical research in nature, as only few species are primarily limited by solely one resource, rather than a combination of multiple factors. One exception are the shell-dwelling hermit crabs, which are known to be limited under natural conditions and in suitable habitats primarily by the availability of gastropod shells. In the present study, we used two co-occurring terrestrial hermit crab species, Coenobita rugosus and C. perlatus, to investigate how resource partitioning is realized in nature and whether it could be a driver of coexistence.