LANDSCAPE COMPOSITION AND THE INTENSITY AND OUTCOME OF 2-SPECIES COMPETITION

A spatially explicit model of interspecific competition for two species that perform best in alternate habitat types is developed. Computer simulations of the model showed that the outcome of interspecific competition varied according to the make-up of the habitat mosaic. In general, competitive ability of species varied in proportion to the abundance of optimal habitat for that species as well as dispersal ability. Dispersal distance determined to what extent competition occurred locally (within patches) or regionally (at the level of patch networks). These results suggest that the intensity and outcome of interspecific competition reflects dispersal ability and patch composition as much as the intrinsic competitive abilities of species themselves.