An Intransitive Switch: Turning Ecological Processes On and Off

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The idea that ecological processes such as competition and predication influence assemblages of species has been a common theme ever since the scientific method was applied to ecological systems. Such factors have been posited as explanations for many of the patterns seen in nature. The P.I. will investigate competitive hierarchies (species A always beats species B and C, and B always beats C) can be altered to such that an extent that an intransitive relationship (i.e.,) species A beats species B, which beats species C, which beats species A) using several invasion sequences which resulted in a change in ordering of the intransitivity. The P.I. propose a series of experiments designed to explore competition for resources based on physiological, population, and community level factors. The experimentation and theoretical analysis of this phenomenon promises to uncover ecological mechanics which may very well recast some of the current views of interspecific competition.