Habitat and diet resource partitioning between Hynobius formosanus and Hynobius sonani

• Main Authors: Li-Yi Chang, 張立宜
• Other Authors: Kuang-Yang Lue
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2011
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/47058427637821079644

碩士 === 國立臺灣師範大學 === 生命科學研究所 === 99 === Resource partitioning is often considered as one way for species to coexist in sympatric areas with other species. To compare resource partitioning between sympatric and allopatric populations may help us to understand the mechanism of competition among species. In this study we investigated the difference in habitat preference and diets between Hynobius formosanus and Hynobius sonani in Hehuan, Nenggao, Nanhu, and Xiaoxue Mountain areas from June 2009 to May 2011. Results showed that H. formosanus and H. sonani inhabited in different vegetations. No significant difference was found between their shelter coverage sizes, substrate types, and foods. The niche breadth in vegetation of H. sonani was relatively narrow in allopatric distribution (Ba=0.000), while it was wide in sympatric distribution (Ba=0.973). This suggests that the sympatric population of H. sonani may decrease the specificity of vegetation preference. In terms of niche overlap, H. formosanus and H. sonani had the lowest level in niche overlap of vegetation (O=0.772) in sympatric areas. However, the accessibility of environmental resources may limit the resource utilization in these two salamanders. We suggested that niche overlap may be related more with habitat environmental condition rather than the resource preference of individuals.