Species diversity rises exponentially with the number of available resources in a multi-trait competition model.

ABSTRACT: Theoretical studies of ecosystem models have generally concluded that large numbers of species will not stably coexist if the species are all competing for the same limited set of resources. Here, we describe a simple multi-trait model of competition where the presence of N resources will lead to the stable coexistence of up to 2 ^N species. Our model also predicts that the long-term dynamics of the population will lie on a neutral attractor hyperplane. When the population shifts within the hyperplane, its dynamics will behave neutrally, while shifts which occur perpendicular to the hyperplane will be subject to restoring forces. This provides a potential explanation of why complex ecosystems might exhibit both niche-like and neutral responses to perturbations. Like

SUBMITTER: Laan A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6125918 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature