Lecture 22

Topics

• Flour beetles - testing the model

• Testing the predictions

Study Sources

• Chapter 21 in Ricklefs and Miller

• Study Guide: Competition

The Main Points

• Study pp. 405-407 and Figure 21-1 in Ricklefs.

• The different "climates" did produce different outcomes as one would predict from the fact the different K values were attained by each species when grown alone.

• There was never a case of coexistence, however.

• Park's predictions of outcomes of interspecific competition based upon these potential K values were not sustained. He found that the interactive effects of the two species were knowable only when they were forced to share the same environments (climates). Study the Equilibrium population sizes in Table 21-1 and see how you would have done in making predictions of the "winners".

• Our experience in studying populations in the field shows us that the same kind of uncertainty exists there as well.