Coexistence of competing species by the oscillation of polymorphisms

Scale-eating cichlids in Lake Tanganyika exhibit genetically determined lateral asymmetry, especially in their mouth-opening. Frequencies of the morphs oscillate due to strong frequency-dependent selection caused by the switching of preyʹs attention, and its delayed effect by their growth period. Two scale-eaters coexist in similar densities at south shore of the lake, with their morph frequencies oscillating in phase. We investigated the effect of the oscillation in morph frequencies to the coexistence of competing species. If the difference of two species’ growth period is large, the oscillation facilitates the coexistence of the two species, while small difference of growth periods hinders their coexistence. In the latter case, the species with shorter growth period drives the other species to the extinction.