Niche Diversification and Differentiation as Exemplified by the Snail-killing Flies (Sciomyzidae: Diptera)

Williams, CD ORCID: 0000-0003-0528-3436 (2025) Niche Diversification and Differentiation as Exemplified by the Snail-killing Flies (Sciomyzidae: Diptera). Wetlands, 45 (8). ISSN 0277-5212

Preview

Text Niche Diversification and Differentiation as Exemplified by the Snail killing Flies Sciomyzidae Diptera.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (747kB) | Preview

Abstract

New definitions of “niche diversification” and “niche differentiation” are proposed. The former is the opening up of new adaptive zones through major changes in the environment or though internal changes that allow a range of new resources to be exploited. The latter is the lowering of competition (both intra- and interspecific) within existing adaptive zones through partitioning of resources. These definitions are discussed with respect to Hutchinson’s n-dimensional concept of the niche. The snail-killing flies (Sciomyzidae: Diptera), one of the biologically best known and most species rich higher flies in wetlands, are used as exemplars of this concept.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	04 Earth Sciences; 05 Environmental Sciences; 06 Biological Sciences; Ecology; 31 Biological sciences; 37 Earth sciences; 41 Environmental sciences
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology
Divisions:	Biological and Environmental Sciences (from Sep 19)
Publisher:	Springer
Date of acceptance:	20 October 2025
Date of first compliant Open Access:	10 November 2025
Date Deposited:	10 Nov 2025 10:44
Last Modified:	10 Nov 2025 11:00
DOI or ID number:	10.1007/s13157-025-01999-5
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/27534

View Item