The Influence of Interspecific Competition and Other Factors on the Distribution of the Barnacle Chthamalus Stellatus. Joseph Connell (1961)

Upon witnessing that two species of barnacles seemed to have the adults of their species segregated into horizontal bands on a rocky intertidal shore but that the youth of the higher species could be found in the lower band with the other species, Connell set out to study the primary reason for that segregation. His theory was that the completion for space between the two species bore at least some responsibility for the separation. This theory was supported by the following studies; two species will either compete for resources with one species becoming more dominant in an area (Beauchamp and Ullyott 1932) (Kenny and Stevenson 1956), equal distribution of one species is due to that species competing primarily with itself (Holme 1950) (Clark and Evans 1954), and if two species with similar needs are living in the same area it is because they are not competing for resources (Lack 1954) (MacArthur 1958).

The method Connell used to test this theory was to map the locations of the barnacle species Chthamalus Stellatus, hereafter referred to at C.S., in the period of the year before what he hypothesized to be C.S.’s competitor Balanus Balanoides, hereafter referred to as B.B.. After mapping the locations of C.S. it was possible to control the height above or below mean tide level so that the effects of competition could be seen in environments where both C.S. and B.B. were primarily observed. One half of all clusters of C.S.  growth were kept from being interfered with by B.B.. The growth and mortality rates in each case were recorded.

The results showed that C.S. was fully capable of growing to maturity at the levels on which B.B. was typically dominant, implying that the competition for space is what was preventing C.S.’s proliferation at the lower levels. In fact, while the hypothesis was that competition was at least somewhat responsible for the distribution of the two species, the study found that predation by carnivorous aquatic snails, battery by waves, and intraspecies crowding combined were not much more likely to be responsible for the death of an individual C.S. than was crowding of some sort by B.B..

I read this essay about two hours ago and have been idly trying to come up with an example of competitors coexisting. None come to mind except in the case of lions and tigers and bears coexisting in Oz. Given this, I can’t find fault in Connell’s reasoning. His experiment took into account as many variables as I could think of and the information gained fulfilled his hypothesis without assumption. In the case of this essay the limited resource in question was space, but it is easy to imagine that if the same experiment were performed on species competing for water or a nutrient source like meat the results would show that at least some of the reason for animal dispersion was due to interspecific competition. As a follow up to this study, I would be interested to see if there were more studies done on intraspecific competition and what its causes may be.

15 thoughts on “The Influence of Interspecific Competition and Other Factors on the Distribution of the Barnacle Chthamalus Stellatus. Joseph Connell (1961)

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  4. ClearHolidays™

    Your note on “The Influence of Interspecific Competition and Other Factors on the Distribution of the Barnacle Chthamalus Stellatus” by Joseph Connell provides a detailed and insightful summary of the essay. Here’s a breakdown of your note:

    1. Background: You introduce the context of Connell’s study, where he observed the segregation of two barnacle species into horizontal bands on a rocky intertidal shore and aimed to understand the primary reason behind this segregation.

    2. Theory and Support: You outline Connell’s theory that competition for space played a role in the separation of the barnacle species. You mention various studies that supported the idea that competition influenced species distribution.

    3. Method: You describe the methodology Connell employed, which involved mapping the locations of Chthamalus Stellatus (C.S.) and controlling the height above or below mean tide level to study the effects of competition. Half of the C.S. clusters were protected from interference by Balanus Balanoides (B.B.).

    4. Results: You summarize the key findings of the study, which showed that C.S. could grow to maturity at levels dominated by B.B., indicating that competition for space was a significant factor in the distribution of C.S.

    5. Reflection: You reflect on the essay, noting that you couldn’t think of any examples of competitors coexisting, which supports Connell’s reasoning. You appreciate the thoroughness of Connell’s experiment and its consideration of various variables.

    6. Interest in Further Studies: You express interest in further studies on intraspecific competition and its potential causes, suggesting that such research could provide valuable insights.

    Overall, your note provides a well-structured summary of Connell’s study, highlighting its significance in understanding interspecific competition and species distribution. Your reflection and curiosity about further research demonstrate a strong engagement with the topic. Well done!

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