Abstract
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 923-926 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Nature |
| Volume | 410 |
| Issue number | 6831 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 19 Apr 2001 |
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Towards a general theory of biodiversity. / Pachepsky, Elizaveta; Crawford, John W.; Bown, James L.; Squire, Geoff.
In: Nature, Vol. 410, No. 6831, 19.04.2001, p. 923-926.Research output: Contribution to journal › Letter
TY - JOUR
T1 - Towards a general theory of biodiversity
AU - Pachepsky, Elizaveta
AU - Crawford, John W.
AU - Bown, James L.
AU - Squire, Geoff
PY - 2001/4/19
Y1 - 2001/4/19
N2 - The study of patterns in living diversity is driven by the desire to find the universal rules that underlie the organization of ecosystems. The relative abundance distribution, which characterizes the total number and abundance of species in a community, is arguably the most fundamental measure in ecology. Considerable effort has been expended in striving for a general theory that can explain the form of the distribution. Despite this, a mechanistic understanding of the form in terms of physiological and environmental parameters remains elusive. Recently, it has been proposed that space plays a central role in generating the patterns of diversity. Here we show that an understanding of the observed form of the relative abundance distribution requires a consideration of how individuals pack in time. We present a framework for studying the dynamics of communities which generalizes the prevailing species-based approach to one based on individuals that are characterized by their physiological traits. The observed form of the abundance distribution and its dependence on richness and disturbance are reproduced, and can be understood in terms of the trade-off between time to reproduction and fecundity.
AB - The study of patterns in living diversity is driven by the desire to find the universal rules that underlie the organization of ecosystems. The relative abundance distribution, which characterizes the total number and abundance of species in a community, is arguably the most fundamental measure in ecology. Considerable effort has been expended in striving for a general theory that can explain the form of the distribution. Despite this, a mechanistic understanding of the form in terms of physiological and environmental parameters remains elusive. Recently, it has been proposed that space plays a central role in generating the patterns of diversity. Here we show that an understanding of the observed form of the relative abundance distribution requires a consideration of how individuals pack in time. We present a framework for studying the dynamics of communities which generalizes the prevailing species-based approach to one based on individuals that are characterized by their physiological traits. The observed form of the abundance distribution and its dependence on richness and disturbance are reproduced, and can be understood in terms of the trade-off between time to reproduction and fecundity.
U2 - 10.1038/35073563
DO - 10.1038/35073563
M3 - Letter
VL - 410
SP - 923
EP - 926
JO - Nature
JF - Nature
SN - 0028-0836
IS - 6831
ER -