scholarly journals Ecological Equivalence: A Realistic Assumption for Niche Theory as a Testable Alternative to Neutral Theory

PLoS ONE ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 4 (10) ◽  
pp. e7460 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Patrick Doncaster
Keyword(s):  
Neutral Theory ◽  
Niche Theory ◽  
Realistic Assumption ◽  
Ecological Equivalence

scholarly journals Towards a unification of niche and neutral models of community ecology

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andres Laan ◽  
Gonzalo G. de Polavieja
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Community Dynamics ◽  
Neutral Theory ◽  
Species Abundance ◽  
Theory Model ◽  
Niche Theory ◽  
Species Abundance Distributions ◽  
Restoring Forces ◽  
Neutral Models

AbstractEcological models of community dynamics fall into two main categories. The neutral theory of biodiversity correctly predicts various large-scale ecosystem characteristics such as the species abundance distributions. On a smaller scale, the niche theory of species competition explains population dynamics and interactions between two to a dozen species. Despite the successes of the two theories, they rely on two contradictory assumptions. In the neutral theory each species is competitively equivalent while in the niche theory every species is specialized to exploit a specific part of its environment. Here we propose a resolution to this contradiction using a game theory model of competition with an attractor hyperplane as its equilibrium solution. When the population dynamics shifts within the hyperplane, it is selectively neutral. However, any movement perpendicular to the hyperplane is subject to restoring forces similar to what is predicted by the niche theory. We show that this model correctly reproduces empirical species abundance distributions and is also compatible with species removal experiments.

scholarly journals Influence of habitat structure on Pristimantis species (Anura: Craugastoridae) in a bamboo-dominated forest fragment in southwestern Amazonia

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 19
Author(s):  
Jhon Jairo López-Rojas ◽  
Moisés Barbosa Souza ◽  
Elder Ferreira Morato
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Habitat Structure ◽  
Neutral Theory ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Spatial Distance ◽  
Niche Theory ◽  
Forest Fragment ◽  
Biodiversity Research ◽  
Remnant Forest ◽  
Southwestern Amazonia

Structural and determinate factors for the composition of assemblages of species are diverse. Two theories attempt to explain the pattern of species composition in assemblies using different approaches—i.e., Niche Theory and Neutral Theory. Anurans have complex responses to habitat structure. Species of Pristimantis are good indicators for conservation because they are organisms with direct development. The effect of habitat structure on species of Pristimantis in a bamboo-dominated remnant forest located in southwestern Amazonia is analyzed herein. Active visual and auditory searches in 10 plots of the Biodiversity Research Program (PPBio) were conducted between November 2012 and May 2013. Four hundred and sixty individuals of five species were recorded: Pristimantis altamazonicus, P. diadematus, P. fenestratus, P. reichlei, and P. skydmainus. Neither spatial distance nor the structure of the habitat of the plots affected the composition of Pristimantis. The first axis of PCA explained 45.6% variation of the characterization habitat structure, correlated significantly with the number of Pristimantis, species increasing with trees between 10 ≤ dbh < 30 cm and decreased with density of bamboo. The increase in litter depth and canopy cover influenced in the occurrence of P. reichlei, the occurrence of P. skydmainus decreased with increased density of bamboo and trees dbh ≥ 30 cm and the occurrence of P. diadematus decreased relative to increased canopy cover. Pristimantis diadematus and P. skydmainus were the most restricted species in terms of habitat and were especially susceptible to bamboo density.

scholarly journals Scaling issues of neutral theory reveal violations of ecological equivalence for dominant Amazonian tree species

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. 1072-1082 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edwin Pos ◽  
Juan Ernesto Guevara ◽  
Jean‐François Molino ◽  
Daniel Sabatier ◽  
Olaf S. Bánki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Neutral Theory ◽  
Ecological Equivalence

scholarly journals Applications of biodiversity theories in conservation

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katrin M. Meyer ◽  
Marco Sciaini ◽  
Clara-Sophie van Waveren
Keyword(s):  
Local Community ◽  
Order Approximation ◽  
Neutral Theory ◽  
Species Abundance ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Niche Theory ◽  
Species Identity ◽  
Habitat Specificity ◽  
Conservation Practice ◽  
Starting Point

Biodiversity theories are not very often explicitly consulted in conservation practice, but implicitly many conservation decisions rely on theory. Biodiversity theories can inform important conservation actions such as assessments of species richness and extinction or habitat loss and fragmentation. Popular examples of biodiversity theories are niche theory and island biogeography theory, whereas neutral theory is less known. Here, we review the implications of biodiversity theories for conservation practice, focusing on neutral theory. Neutral theory assumes that the establishment and success of an individual in a community does not depend on its species identity, but is instead predominantly driven by a stochastic process. We found that drift and stochasticity appear much less frequently in conservation studies than selection processes typical of niche theory. This might be because habitat-specificity is not supported by neutral theory, but is common among rare and vulnerable species. Furthermore, neutral theory makes less intuitive assumptions than niche theory and does not consider trophic interactions. However, models based on neutral theory proved to be useful in some biodiversity hotspots. Moreover, some models based on neutral theory subdivide space into local community and metacommunity, which reflects concepts commonly used in conservation science. Neutral approaches have been used in conservation to generate realistic species-abundance distributions and species-area relationships, provide a standard against which to compare species loss, prioritize species protection, model biological invasions, and support protected area design. We propose that neutral theory can serve as a valuable first-order approximation to reduce complexity and by design account for drift and stochasticity. Neutral theory provides the benefits of a community theory whereas niche theory focuses on single species. Ideally, neutral approaches should be used as a starting point for conscious stepwise addition of niche structure. This step-wise approach reflects recent integrative biodiversity theories that combine aspects of neutral and niche theory such as the stochastic niche or emergent neutrality and may provide a promising foundation for future conservation practice.

scholarly journals Predicting the outcome of competition when fitness inequality is variable

2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (8) ◽  
pp. 150274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael T. Pedruski ◽  
Gregor F. Fussmann ◽  
Andrew Gonzalez
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulations ◽  
Resource Competition ◽  
Neutral Theory ◽  
Competitive Dynamics ◽  
Initial Population ◽  
Niche Theory ◽  
Demographic Stochasticity ◽  
Initial Population Size ◽  
Unexpected Outcomes

Traditional niche theory predicts that when species compete for one limiting resource in simple ecological settings the more fit competitor should exclude the less fit competitor. Since the advent of neutral theory ecologists have increasingly become interested both in how the magnitude of fitness inequality between competitors and stochasticity may affect this prediction. We used numerical simulations to investigate the outcome of two-species resource competition along gradients of fitness inequality (inequality in R *) and initial population size in the presence of demographic stochasticity. We found that the deterministic prediction of more fit competitors excluding less fit competitors was often unobserved when fitness inequalities were low or stochasticity was strong, and unexpected outcomes such as dominance by the less fit competitor, long-term co-persistence of both competitors or the extinction of both competitors could be common. By examining the interaction between fitness inequality and stochasticity our results mark the range of parameter space in which the predictions of niche theory break down most severely, and suggest that questions about whether competitive dynamics are driven by neutral or niche processes may be locally contingent.

Community assembly: the relative importance of neutral theory and niche theory

2009 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 579 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niu Ke-chang ◽  
Liu Yi-ning ◽  
Shen Ze-hao ◽  
He Fang-liang ◽  
Fang Jing-yun
Keyword(s):  
Community Assembly ◽  
Neutral Theory ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Niche Theory

scholarly journals Applications of biodiversity theories in conservation

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katrin M. Meyer ◽  
Marco Sciaini ◽  
Clara-Sophie van Waveren
Keyword(s):  
Local Community ◽  
Order Approximation ◽  
Neutral Theory ◽  
Species Abundance ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Niche Theory ◽  
Species Identity ◽  
Habitat Specificity ◽  
Conservation Practice ◽  
Starting Point

Biodiversity theories are not very often explicitly consulted in conservation practice, but implicitly many conservation decisions rely on theory. Biodiversity theories can inform important conservation actions such as assessments of species richness and extinction or habitat loss and fragmentation. Popular examples of biodiversity theories are niche theory and island biogeography theory, whereas neutral theory is less known. Here, we review the implications of biodiversity theories for conservation practice, focusing on neutral theory. Neutral theory assumes that the establishment and success of an individual in a community does not depend on its species identity, but is instead predominantly driven by a stochastic process. We found that drift and stochasticity appear much less frequently in conservation studies than selection processes typical of niche theory. This might be because habitat-specificity is not supported by neutral theory, but is common among rare and vulnerable species. Furthermore, neutral theory makes less intuitive assumptions than niche theory and does not consider trophic interactions. However, models based on neutral theory proved to be useful in some biodiversity hotspots. Moreover, some models based on neutral theory subdivide space into local community and metacommunity, which reflects concepts commonly used in conservation science. Neutral approaches have been used in conservation to generate realistic species-abundance distributions and species-area relationships, provide a standard against which to compare species loss, prioritize species protection, model biological invasions, and support protected area design. We propose that neutral theory can serve as a valuable first-order approximation to reduce complexity and by design account for drift and stochasticity. Neutral theory provides the benefits of a community theory whereas niche theory focuses on single species. Ideally, neutral approaches should be used as a starting point for conscious stepwise addition of niche structure. This step-wise approach reflects recent integrative biodiversity theories that combine aspects of neutral and niche theory such as the stochastic niche or emergent neutrality and may provide a promising foundation for future conservation practice.

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