We introduce and analyze a spatial Lotka-Volterra competition model with local and nonlocal interactions. We study two alternative classes of nonlocal competition that differ in how each species’ characteristics determine the range of the nonlocal interactions. In both cases, nonlocal interactions can create spatial patterns of population densities in which highly populated clumps alternate with unpopulated regions. These non-populated regions provide spatial niches for a weaker competitor to establish in the community and persist in conditions in which local models predict competitive exclusion. Moreover, depending on the balance between local and nonlocal competition intensity, the clumps of the weaker competitor vary from M-like structures with higher densities of individuals accumulating at the edges of each clump to triangular structures with most individuals occupying their centers. These results suggest that long-range competition, through the creation of spatial patterns in population densities, might be a key driving force behind the rich diversity of species observed in natural ecological communities.

我们介绍并分析了具有局部和非局部相互作用的空间 Lotka-Volterra 竞争模型。我们研究了两种不同类别的非局部竞争，它们在每个物种的特征如何决定非局部相互作用的范围方面有所不同。在这两种情况下，非局部相互作用可以创建人口密度的空间模式，其中人口稠密的团块与无人居住的地区交替出现。这些非人口稠密的地区为较弱的竞争者在社区中建立并坚持当地模型预测竞争排斥的条件提供了空间利基。此外，取决于本地和非本地竞争强度之间的平衡，较弱竞争者的团块从具有较高密度个体聚集在每个团块边缘的 M 状结构到大多数个体占据其中心的三角形结构不等。这些结果表明，通过在人口密度中创建空间模式，长期竞争可能是在自然生态群落中观察到的物种丰富多样性背后的关键驱动力。