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What enables coexistence in plant communities? Weak versus strong species traits and the role of local processes

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  • Dislich, Claudia
  • Johst, Karin
  • Huth, Andreas

Abstract

Explaining the coexistence of species that basically depend on the same resources has been a brainteaser for generations of ecologists. Different mechanisms have been proposed to facilitate coexistence in plant communities, where space is an important resource. Using a stochastic cellular automaton simulation model we analyze – separately and in combination – the influence of different species traits and processes which alter local competition on the coexistence of plant species over a fixed time horizon. We show that different species traits operate on different time scales in competition. We therefore suggest the concept of weak versus strong traits according to short- or long-term exclusion of species differing in these traits. As a consequence, highly non-linear trade-offs between weak and strong traits can result in communities. Furthermore, we found that trade-offs based on physiological species traits such as plant lifetime, dispersal range and plant growth, did not support broad and long-term coexistence—further processes such as density-dependent mortality and light-dependent colonization were necessary. This suggests that coexistence in plant communities requires (stabilizing) local processes to support the (equalizing) trade-offs in species traits.

Suggested Citation

  • Dislich, Claudia & Johst, Karin & Huth, Andreas, 2010. "What enables coexistence in plant communities? Weak versus strong species traits and the role of local processes," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 221(19), pages 2227-2236.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:221:y:2010:i:19:p:2227-2236
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2010.06.011
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Pronk, T.E. & During, H.J. & Schieving, F., 2007. "Coexistence by temporal partitioning of the available light in plants with different height and leaf investments," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 204(3), pages 349-358.
    2. Esther, Alexandra & Groeneveld, Jürgen & Enright, Neal J. & Miller, Ben P. & Lamont, Byron B. & Perry, George L.W. & Schurr, Frank M. & Jeltsch, Florian, 2008. "Assessing the importance of seed immigration on coexistence of plant functional types in a species-rich ecosystem," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 213(3), pages 402-416.
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    Cited by:

    1. Gardner, Robert H. & Engelhardt, Katharina A.M. & Elmore, Andrew J. & Cadol, Dan, 2014. "A traits-based model of species diversity," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 288(C), pages 178-194.

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