Intra-Generic Competition as Illustrated by Moreau's Records of East African Bird Communities

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
When habitats are sufficiently restricted so as to contain from 1 to 20 spp. with an avg. of less than 9, the statistical analysis of the relative numbers of spp. in different genera shows a definite excess of congeneric groups with 2 or more spp. above what would be expected by selection without reference to generic relations; and further that this excess seems to increase as the number of congeneric spp. increases. Biological competition between closely related spp. is probably on an average greater than that between those less closely related. Closely related spp. are probably more 17232-17239 ECOLOGY [Vol. 26] 1570 suited to similar physical environments, and to similar extra-generic competition. The balance of these two major factors, physical and biological, which determine the survival of spp. in different habitats, as shown by actual proportional survival in Nature, appears to indicate that the advantages of close relationship are on average greater than the drawbacks.

This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit: