Species abundances and lifetimes: From neutral to niche-stabilized communities

JOURNAL OF THEORETICAL BIOLOGY

卷:338

Article

Pigolotti, Simone¹  Cencini, Massimo² 

[1] Univ Politecn Cataluna, Dept Fis & Eng Nucl, Barcelona 08222, Spain

[2] CNR, ISC, I-00185 Rome, Italy

关键词: Neutral theory;    Niche theory;    Niche stabilization;    Species abundance distribution;    Species lifetimes;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.jtbi.2013.08.024

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

We study a stochastic community model able to interpolate from a neutral regime to a niche partitioned regime upon varying a single parameter tuning the intensity of niche stabilization, namely the difference between intraspecific and interspecific competition. By means of a self-consistent approach, we obtain an analytical expression for the species abundance distribution, in excellent agreement with stochastic simulations of the model. In the neutral limit, the Fisher log-series is recovered, while upon increasing the stabilization strength the species abundance distribution develops a maximum for species at intermediate abundances, corresponding to the emergence of a carrying capacity. Numerical studies of species extinction-time distribution show that niche-stabilization strongly affects also the dynamical properties of the system by increasing the average species lifetimes, while suppressing their fluctuations. The results are discussed in view of the niche-neutral debate and of their potential relevance to field data. (c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

【 授权许可】

Free