The spatial consequences of interspecific competition

of plant and animal species. Spatial effects may be present at the scale of one or two habitats, at a regional scale, or at the scale of the entire geographical ranges of one or more species. If interspecific competition has affected or does affect the spatial distribution of organisms then it should be manifested at all spatial scales in repulsed interspecific distribution. We review the methods used and results obtained thus far in studies of the spatial consequences of interspecific competition at all spatial scales. We find that spatial effects occur more frequently and are logistically easier to detect at the scale of habitats than at larger spatial scales. Those instances where spatial effects have been documented usually involve interference competition. These instances are dominated by vertebrates, social in sects, or other organisms that are essentially sessile or at least occupy feeding or breeding territories for part of their life.