In spite of the classical notion that interspecific competition constrains niche width it is possible to envision circumstances under which it could cause niche width to increase.
For example, reducing the availability of a valuable resource forces an animal to compensate in some fashion: through increased exploitation of the other resources it currently consumes (as classical theory would dictate), or potentially, through exploiting new resources which can mitigate the loss. If more than one alternative resource is incorporated, an animal will have widened their niche as a direct result of interspecific competition.
Does anyone know of any studies which have shown such effects? Or any papers in which this or other possible ways interspecific competition could widen niche are discussed?
