Evolutionary and Ecological Consequences of Specialization

Ecological specialization, the phenomenon of a species ‘voluntarily’ restricting its niche space, is something well-document by ecologists. Many processes are believed to promote or hinder specialization. Using the G-function approach again, I am looking to see whether the process of intraspecific competition, usually thought to hinder specialization, actually promotes ecological specialization under certain circumstances. As well, I will also see whether the effects of ecological specialization on speciation and how the evolution of this additional trait affects result community structure.