Growth and dispersal patterns of Tribolium castaneum in different size habitats

Abstract

Competition for space, resources, and mates plays an important role in the survivorship of many organisms (Sbilordo et al. 2011). Understanding how competition affects a population is a crucial component in ensuring the survival of threatened and endangered species (Halliday et al. 2015). But what affect does an organism’s habitat size have on its ability to grow in population? Habitat size and competition have an inverse relationship. As the habitat decreases in size, there is an increase in intraspecific competition. In this experiment, we tested this relationship. We found that Tribolium castaneum produced less offspring in smaller containers compared to larger ones. They also had larger distances between individuals in larger containers. This research helps support the hypothesis that habitat destruction can negatively affect the growth of a population (Van Allen et al. 2016).