Competition and coexistence in mustelid communities

Abstract

The family Mustelidae is large and many mustelid species guilds are larger than other carnivore guilds. For example, in northeastern North America half the native carnivore species are mustelids (Hail 1981). Though competition between mustelids has not been proven (vis-a-vis Connor & Simberloff 1979), mustelid sympatry has always been explained by size differences that reduce competition for food (Rosenzweig 1966). We find it difficult to believe that size differences alone explain the coexistence of so many mustelids, especially in the genera Martes and Mustela.

Citation

Powell, Roger A.; Zielinski, William J. 1983. Competition and coexistence in mustelid communities. Acta Zoology Fennica 174: 223-227