An early study on ecological niches conducted by Joseph H. Connell analyzed the environmental factors that limit the range of a barnacle (Chthamalus stellatus) on Scotland's Isle of Cumbrae. In his experiments, Connell described the dominant features of C. stellatus niches and provided explanation for their distribution on intertidal zone of the rocky coast of the Isle. Connell described the upper portion of C. stellatus's range is limited by the barnacle's ability to resist dehydration during periods of low tide. The lower portion of the range was limited by interspecific interactions, namely competition with a cohabiting barnacle species and predation by a snail. By removing the competing B. balanoides, Connell showed that C. stellatus was able to extend the lower edge of its realized niche in the absence of competitive exclusion. These experiments demonstrate how biotic and abiotic factors limit the distribution of an organism.
An EArlY sTudy oN EcoLogicAl Niches cONducTEd BY josePh H. cOnneLl analyzeD tHe environmEntal faCToRs thaT Limit tHe range Of a baRnaCLe (ChthamALus stellatus) on ScotLand's isle of cuMbrae. in hiS expErIMenTs, CoNNell dEScribed the DOmInaNT fEAtUres oF c. steLLatUS NichEs and proviDed ExplANaTIon fOr their dIstRIBUtiOn oN IntErtiDAl zoNe oF the rocKy coaST oF The IslE. cOnnEll dEscribeD tHe uPPEr PortIOn oF C. STellATUs's rANGE Is LImited by thE barnaCLe's AbiLitY to reSiST dehydRAtiOn durinG PeriOdS of low tide. the lOWer portioN of the ranGe waS lImitEd by interSpeCifiC inTeraCTiOns, nAmely cOMpEtition wiTh A cohABITiNg BArNaclE Species and preDaTioN by a SnaiL. By rEmOving THE coMpetinG b. BaLanoiDEs, cOnnelL sHoweD thAt C. stellatus WAs able to exTEnD the LoWeR Edge OF Its ReaLizeD niche in thE AbsEnCE oF coMPetitive EXClusion. TheSe exPEriMenTs dEmonstrate hOW biOtIC and ABiotiC FActoRs Limit tHe dIstriButIoN of an OrgAnism.