Niche differentiation and maintenance of genetic identity in cohabiting Eucalyptus species

Differences in niche utilization between two cohabiting eucalypt species (Eucalyptus signata and E. umbra ssp. umbra) on North Stradbroke Island, Qld., are documented, including differences in morphology, growth patterns, seasonality, insect attack and a three month difference in peak seasonal uptake of most essential elements. The significance of these niche differences in aiding the coexistence of competing eucalypt species is supported by results using recent theoretical models from niche theory. It is noted that the presence of significant niche complementarity amongst cohabiting pairs of eucalypts will place hybrid offspring at a disadvantage relative to homozygous strains. This phenomenon helps explain the scarcity or absence of hybrids in a number of communities where potentially interbreeding species of Eucalyptus coexist. Co-occurrence of species pairs which are capable of interbreeding will not be favored by environmental selection both because of the reduced production of homozygous offspring, and because of the reduced niche separation exhibited by taxonomically closely-related species. Such differences help explain the scarcity of co-occurrence of interbreeding pairs of species of Eucalyptus in relatively unperturbed natural communities.