Community assembly in Lake Tanganyika cichlid fish: quantifying the contributions of both niche-based and neutral processes.

ABSTRACT: The cichlid family features some of the most spectacular examples of adaptive radiation. Evolutionary studies have highlighted the importance of both trophic adaptation and sexual selection in cichlid speciation. However, it is poorly understood what processes drive the composition and diversity of local cichlid species assemblages on relatively short, ecological timescales. Here, we investigate the relative importance of niche-based and neutral processes in determining the composition and diversity of cichlid communities inhabiting various environmental conditions in the littoral zone of Lake Tanganyika, Zambia. We collected data on cichlid abundance, morphometrics, and local environments. We analyzed relationships between mean trait values, community composition, and environmental variat

SUBMITTER: Janzen T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5306054 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature