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Density dependence explains tree species abundance and diversity in tropical forests

Author

Listed:
  • Igor Volkov

    (The Pennsylvania State University)

  • Jayanth R. Banavar

    (The Pennsylvania State University)

  • Fangliang He

    (University of Alberta)

  • Stephen P. Hubbell

    (The University of Georgia
    The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute)

  • Amos Maritan

    (Universitá di Padova)

Abstract

The recurrent patterns in the commonness and rarity of species in ecological communities—the relative species abundance—have puzzled ecologists for more than half a century1,2. Here we show that the framework of the current neutral theory in ecology3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 can easily be generalized to incorporate symmetric density dependence11,12,13,14. We can calculate precisely the strength of the rare-species advantage that is needed to explain a given RSA distribution. Previously, we demonstrated that a mechanism of dispersal limitation also fits RSA data well3,4. Here we compare fits of the dispersal and density-dependence mechanisms for empirical RSA data on tree species in six New and Old World tropical forests and show that both mechanisms offer sufficient and independent explanations. We suggest that RSA data cannot by themselves be used to discriminate among these explanations of RSA patterns15—empirical studies will be required to determine whether RSA patterns are due to one or the other mechanism, or to some combination of both.

Suggested Citation

  • Igor Volkov & Jayanth R. Banavar & Fangliang He & Stephen P. Hubbell & Amos Maritan, 2005. "Density dependence explains tree species abundance and diversity in tropical forests," Nature, Nature, vol. 438(7068), pages 658-661, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:438:y:2005:i:7068:d:10.1038_nature04030
    DOI: 10.1038/nature04030
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    Cited by:

    1. Li, Jie & Shen, Xuzhu, 2018. "An improved neutral community model for temporal observations in microbial communities," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 388(C), pages 108-114.
    2. Liao, Jinbao & Li, Zhenqing & Quets, Jan J. & Nijs, Ivan, 2013. "Effects of space partitioning in a plant species diversity model," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 251(C), pages 271-278.
    3. Rampal S Etienne & James Rosindell, 2011. "The Spatial Limitations of Current Neutral Models of Biodiversity," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(3), pages 1-8, March.
    4. Guoyu Lan & Stephan Getzin & Thorsten Wiegand & Yuehua Hu & Guishui Xie & Hua Zhu & Min Cao, 2012. "Spatial Distribution and Interspecific Associations of Tree Species in a Tropical Seasonal Rain Forest of China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(9), pages 1-9, September.
    5. Tiefeng Piao & Jung Hwa Chun & Hee Moon Yang & Kwangil Cheon, 2014. "Negative Density Dependence Regulates Two Tree Species at Later Life Stage in a Temperate Forest," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(7), pages 1-6, July.
    6. Mazzoleni, Stefano & Bonanomi, Giuliano & Giannino, Francesco & Incerti, Guido & Dekker, Stefan C. & Rietkerk, Max, 2010. "Modelling the effects of litter decomposition on tree diversity patterns," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 221(23), pages 2784-2792.
    7. Beeravolu, Champak R. & Couteron, Pierre & Pélissier, Raphaël & Munoz, François, 2009. "Studying ecological communities from a neutral standpoint: A review of models’ structure and parameter estimation," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 220(20), pages 2603-2610.

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