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What Ecological Factors Shape Species-Area Curves in Neutral Models?

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  • Massimo Cencini
  • Simone Pigolotti
  • Miguel A Muñoz

Abstract

Understanding factors that shape biodiversity and species coexistence across scales is of utmost importance in ecology, both theoretically and for conservation policies. Species-area relationships (SARs), measuring how the number of observed species increases upon enlarging the sampled area, constitute a convenient tool for quantifying the spatial structure of biodiversity. While general features of species-area curves are quite universal across ecosystems, some quantitative aspects can change significantly. Several attempts have been made to link these variations to ecological forces. Within the framework of spatially explicit neutral models, here we scrutinize the effect of varying the local population size (i.e. the number of individuals per site) and the level of habitat saturation (allowing for empty sites). We conclude that species-area curves become shallower when the local population size increases, while habitat saturation, unless strongly violated, plays a marginal role. Our findings provide a plausible explanation of why SARs for microorganisms are flatter than those for larger organisms.

Suggested Citation

  • Massimo Cencini & Simone Pigolotti & Miguel A Muñoz, 2012. "What Ecological Factors Shape Species-Area Curves in Neutral Models?," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(6), pages 1-8, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0038232
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0038232
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. M. Claire Horner-Devine & Melissa Lage & Jennifer B. Hughes & Brendan J. M. Bohannan, 2004. "A taxa–area relationship for bacteria," Nature, Nature, vol. 432(7018), pages 750-753, December.
    2. Jessica L. Green & Andrew J. Holmes & Mark Westoby & Ian Oliver & David Briscoe & Mark Dangerfield & Michael Gillings & Andrew J. Beattie, 2004. "Spatial scaling of microbial eukaryote diversity," Nature, Nature, vol. 432(7018), pages 747-750, December.
    3. Ulrich Brose & Annette Ostling & Kateri Harrison & Neo D. Martinez, 2004. "Unified spatial scaling of species and their trophic interactions," Nature, Nature, vol. 428(6979), pages 167-171, March.
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