The following terminology should be part of your working vocabulary:

You should be able to do the following kinds of things:

1. Describe the mechanism of interspecific competition and be able to explain by means of the Gaussian models how the different outcomes (i.e. one species always wins, either species wins or coexistence) can occur. (see Figures 21-1 through 21-8)

2. Using the competition models, explain in theoretical terms how it might be possible for competing species to coexist.

3. Describe the criteria that must be met before you can assess a given interspecific separation as having been the effect of competition. (Interspecific separation here can mean an anatomical or physiological character displacement, a separation in geographical range or territory, utilization of different foods, separation in time of appearance in the habitat, etc.).

4. Evaluate the criteria in view of Figures 21-11 through 21-13.

5. In terms of competition theory, how might the presence of a non-selective predator enhance the possibility of coexistence of potentially competitive species.?

6. Describe what it is we mean by character displacement .

7. How might interspecific competition be used to explain how a given incidence of character displacement was produced (pp. 444-445)?

8. How might the production of sterile hybrids between two species cause character displacement?

9. Think up another hypothesis to explain character displacement that does not involve interspecific competition.

10. Write a definition of competition.

Also, there is an excellent but lengthy review paper on competition by R.S. Miller 1967 Pattern and process in competition. Adv. Ecol. Res. J.B. Cragg, ed. 4: 1 - 74.

Ricklefs refers to David Lack's Darwin's Finches. I recommend it for its good natural history and for an example of a creative application of competition theory to the evolution of a group of species.

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