- Ecological release, defined as an increase in range, habitat, and/or resource usage by organisms following a decline in competitors, is ubiquitous in marine islands. Recently formed island colonized species whose ancestors evolved in highly competitive environments can experience relaxed selection due to reduced diversity of not only competitors but also predators and parasites. In fact, non-competitive factors could also be involved in determining the species’ ability to expand the niche. Ecological specialization, for example, is often seen as an irreversible change, preventing a reversal towards a more generalist state.
- Here we integrate species distribution models using geometric morphometry, stable isotopic analysis, and Spider genus. Disdera As a model organism to explore the meaning of different diatom morphotypes associated with different trophic adaptations regarding the ability of species to undergo ecological release.
- Contrary to our expectations, species with more specialized diet-related morphotypes tend to expand their nutritional niche, increase their spatial range, and modify their phenotypes more similarly in regions of the same morphospace compared to generalist species.
- This result may be explained by its ability to eat isopods, a prey that is usually rejected by most predators, along with other arthropods. This specialization may have been important in expanding the ecological niche compared to generalist species.
- Our study is one of the first examples using an interdisciplinary approach to better understand the effects of ecological release on colonized species with different nutritional preferences.
Bellvert, A., EnguÃdanos, A., Pollock, L. J., Patiño, J., Kaliontzopoulou, A. , & Arnedo, MA species traits regulate the ecological release of the island’s red devil spider (Araneae: Dysderidae). Insect Conservation and Diversity. https://doi.org/10.1111/icad.12841
