Morphological segregation

Date and country of first publication^[1]

2019
Belgium

Definition

Morphological segregation refers to the separation or division of individuals based on physical characteristics or traits, particularly in terms of their morphology or body structure. This can occur within a population or community, where individuals with different morphologies are spatially segregated or occupy different habitats or niches.

Morphological segregation can be driven by various factors, such as environmental conditions, competition, or natural selection. For example, in a bird population, individuals with different beak shapes may be segregated into different habitats based on their feeding preferences or abilities. Similarly, in a marine ecosystem, fish species with different body shapes may inhabit different depths or areas based on their swimming capabilities or prey preferences.

This phenomenon of morphological segregation can have implications for various ecological processes, including resource partitioning, species coexistence, and community structure. By occupying different ecological niches, individuals with distinct morphologies can exploit different resources and reduce inter-specific competition. This can, in turn, promote species diversity and contribute to the stability of ecological communities.

Overall, morphological segregation plays a crucial role in shaping the distribution and interactions of organisms within ecosystems, and understanding its mechanisms and consequences is important for understanding and managing biodiversity.

Related segregation forms

Morphological segregation is frequently discussed in the literature with the following segregation forms:

social segregation, sociospatial segregation

This visualization is based on the study The Multidisciplinary Landscape of Segregation Research.

For the complete network of interrelated segregation forms, please refer to:

First year of publication

Louvain clusters

Betweenness centrality

Disciplines in which segregation forms first emerged (Scopus database).

References

Notes

↑ Date and country of first publication as informed by the Scopus database (December 2023).

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