The interaction between predation and competition

Understanding how interactions between species contributes to the maintenance of species diversity is a fundamental question in ecology. New theoretical results presented by Peter Chesson and Jessica Kuang highlight the mutually interdependent roles of predation and competition in governing coexistence. They find that each mechanism can promote diversity through diverse relationships with the particular species, or limit diversity through narrow relationships that pit certain species against each other. Each mechanism can also undercut the effects of the other, or work together promoting diversity, depending on the circumstances.