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Patterns and Processes of Speciation in Ancient Lakes pp 81–94Cite as

Ecological correlates of species differences in the Lake Tanganyika crab radiation

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Part of the book series: Developments in Hydrobiology ((DIHY,volume 205))

Abstract

The endemic crabs of Lake Tanganyika include a phenotypically diverse clade that exhibits recent divergence and low phylogenetic species resolution. There are indications that ecological niche segregation has played a prominent role in the divergence of this clade. We used habitat surveys, gut content analyses and stable isotope analyses to test the extent to which morphological species are ecologically different. Our data show some interspecific segregation in depth, substrate type and mean stable isotope signatures. At the same time, a considerable level of ecological niche overlap is evident among species of Platythelphusa that coexist in rocky littoral habitats. We consider these results in the framework of adaptive radiation theory, and we discuss general ramifications for the maintenance of species diversity in Lake Tanganyika.

Guest editors: T. Wilke, R. Väinölä & F. Riedel Patterns and Processes of Speciation in Ancient Lakes: Proceedings of the Fourth Symposium on Speciation in Ancient Lakes, Berlin, Germany, September 4–8, 2006

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, Section of Evolutionary Biology, University of Amsterdam, Kruislaan 318, 1098 SM, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Saskia A. E. Marijnissen, Daniel F. R. Cleary, Paola G. Rachello Dolmen & Steph B. J. Menken

  2. Department of Zoology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK

    Ellinor Michel

  3. School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College, Zoology Building, University of Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland

    Marjolein Kamermans

  4. Department of Geography, Trinity College, University of Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland

    Kim Olaya-Bosch

  5. Witmondplein 15, 6706 DV, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    Moniek Kars

  6. Departamento de Biologia, Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar (CESAM), Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal

    Daniel F. R. Cleary

  7. Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, Section of Computational Geo-Ecology, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 166, 1018 WV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    E. Emiel van Loon

Authors
  1. Saskia A. E. Marijnissen
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  2. Ellinor Michel
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  3. Marjolein Kamermans
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  4. Kim Olaya-Bosch
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  5. Moniek Kars
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  6. Daniel F. R. Cleary
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  7. E. Emiel van Loon
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  8. Paola G. Rachello Dolmen
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  9. Steph B. J. Menken
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Ecology and Systematics, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32 (IFZ), D-35392, Giessen, Germany

    Thomas Wilke

  2. Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, PO Box 26, Fl-00014, Finland

    Risto Väinölä

  3. Department of Earth Sciences, Free University of Berlin, Malteserstr. 74-100, House D, D-12249, Berlin, Germany

    Frank Riedel

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Marijnissen, S.A.E. et al. (2008). Ecological correlates of species differences in the Lake Tanganyika crab radiation. In: Wilke, T., Väinölä, R., Riedel, F. (eds) Patterns and Processes of Speciation in Ancient Lakes. Developments in Hydrobiology, vol 205. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9582-5_7

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