The Shape of a Gerbil Isocline: An Experimental Field Study

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Abramsky et al. developed a new technique to measure isoclines in the field. The method is based on the single-species habitat selection theory of Fretwell. Using short term experiments (3-4 wk), they tested it by measuring the isocline of Gerbillus allenbyi competing with G. pyramidum is six 1-ha enclosures but allowed individuals of G. allenbyi to move between adjacent enclosures and the surrounding environment. The resulting isocline of the present study was very similar to that obtained during the short term study. The isocline was nonlinear and agreed with the unique predictions of the theory of optimal density-dependent habitat selection in two-species, shared-preference systems