Experimental evidence rejects pairwise modelling approach to coexistence in plant communities.

ABSTRACT: Competition is often invoked as the cause of plant species loss with increasing system productivity. Experimental results for multispecies assemblages are virtually absent and mathematical models are thus used to explore the relationship between competition and coexistence. Modelling approaches to coexistence and diversity in competitive communities commonly employ Lotka-Volterra-type (LV) models with additive pairwise competitive effects. Using pairwise plant competition experiments, we calibrate the LV system and use it to predict plant biomass and coexistence in six three-species and one seven-species experimental mixture. Our results show that five out of the six three-species sets and the seven-species set deviate significantly from LV model predictions. Fitting an additional non-addi

SUBMITTER: Dormann CF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1564102 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature