Speciation-rate dependence in species-area relationships

DOI10.1016/J.JTBI.2009.05.023MaRDI QIDQ1625839zbMATH OpenOpenAlexWikidataFDO

Authors S. Pigolotti, Massimo Cencini

Publication date 26 November 2018

Published in Journal of Theoretical Biology (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/0902.3906

zbMATH Keywords

biodiversitydispersalneutral theoryspatial modelsspecies-area exponentsvoter model

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Ecology (92D40)

Abstract: The general tendency for species number (S) to increase with sampled area (A) constitutes one of the most robust empirical laws of ecology, quantified by species-area relationships (SAR). In many ecosystems, SAR curves display a power-law dependence, $Spropto{A}^z$. The exponent $z$ is always less than one but shows significant variation in different ecosystems. We study the multitype voter model as one of the simplest models able to reproduce SAR similar to those observed in real ecosystems in terms of basic ecological processes such as birth, dispersal and speciation. Within the model, the species-area exponent $z$ depends on the dimensionless speciation rate $u$, even though the detailed dependence is still matter of controversy. We present extensive numerical simulations in a broad range of speciation rates from $u=10^{-3}$ down to $u=10^{-11}$, where the model reproduces values of the exponent observed in nature. In particular, we show that the inverse of the species-area exponent linearly depends on the logarithm of $u$. Further, we compare the model outcomes with field data collected from previous studies, for which we separate the effect of the speciation rate from that of the different species lifespans. We find a good linear relationship between inverse exponents and logarithm of species lifespans. However, the slope sets bounds on the speciation rates that can hardly be justified on evolutionary basis, suggesting that additional effects should be taken into account to consistently interpret the observed exponents.

Recommendations

• Spatial models for species area curves
• On the probabilistic nature of the species-area relation
• Species-area relationship for power-law species abundance distribution
• Species distributions and area relationships
• The species-area relationship and evolution

Cites work

• Ergodic theorems for weakly interacting infinite systems and the voter model
• On random placement and species-area relations
• The zero-sum assumption in neutral biodiversity theory

Cited in

(9)

• Stochastic spatial models in ecology: a statistical physics approach
• On the probabilistic nature of the species-area relation
• The species-area relationship and evolution
• Species distributions and area relationships
• Multifractal analysis of neutral community spatial structure
• scientific article; zbMATH DE number 3999730 (Why is no real title available?)
• Density-dependent speciation alters the structure and dynamics of neutral communities
• Species-area relationship for power-law species abundance distribution
• Spatial models for species area curves

This page was built for publication: Speciation-rate dependence in species-area relationships

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q1625839)