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Biodiversity and species interactions: Extending Lotka-Volterra community theory

Publication ,  Journal Article
Wilson, WG; Lundberg, P; Vázquez, DP; Shurin, JB; Smith, MD; Langford, W; Gross, KL; Mittelbach, GG
Published in: Ecology Letters
October 1, 2003

A new analysis of the nearly century-old Lotka - Volterra theory allows us to link species interactions to biodiversity patterns, including: species abundance distributions, estimates of total community size, patterns of community invasibility, and predicted responses to disturbance. Based on a few restrictive assumptions about species interactions, our calculations require only that the community is sufficiently large to allow a mean-field approximation. We develop this analysis to show how an initial assemblage of species with varying interaction strengths is predicted to sort out into the final community based on the species' predicted target densities. The sorting process yields predictions of covarying patterns of species abundance, community size, and species interaction strengths. These predictions can be tested using enrichment experiments, examination of latitudinal and productivity gradients, and features of community assembly.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Ecology Letters

DOI

ISSN

1461-023X

Publication Date

October 1, 2003

Volume

6

Issue

10

Start / End Page

944 / 952

Related Subject Headings

  • Ecology
  • 4104 Environmental management
  • 4102 Ecological applications
  • 3103 Ecology
  • 0603 Evolutionary Biology
  • 0602 Ecology
  • 0501 Ecological Applications
 

Citation

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MLA
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Wilson, W. G., Lundberg, P., Vázquez, D. P., Shurin, J. B., Smith, M. D., Langford, W., … Mittelbach, G. G. (2003). Biodiversity and species interactions: Extending Lotka-Volterra community theory. Ecology Letters, 6(10), 944–952. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1461-0248.2003.00521.x
Wilson, W. G., P. Lundberg, D. P. Vázquez, J. B. Shurin, M. D. Smith, W. Langford, K. L. Gross, and G. G. Mittelbach. “Biodiversity and species interactions: Extending Lotka-Volterra community theory.” Ecology Letters 6, no. 10 (October 1, 2003): 944–52. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1461-0248.2003.00521.x.
Wilson WG, Lundberg P, Vázquez DP, Shurin JB, Smith MD, Langford W, et al. Biodiversity and species interactions: Extending Lotka-Volterra community theory. Ecology Letters. 2003 Oct 1;6(10):944–52.
Wilson, W. G., et al. “Biodiversity and species interactions: Extending Lotka-Volterra community theory.” Ecology Letters, vol. 6, no. 10, Oct. 2003, pp. 944–52. Scopus, doi:10.1046/j.1461-0248.2003.00521.x.
Wilson WG, Lundberg P, Vázquez DP, Shurin JB, Smith MD, Langford W, Gross KL, Mittelbach GG. Biodiversity and species interactions: Extending Lotka-Volterra community theory. Ecology Letters. 2003 Oct 1;6(10):944–952.
Journal cover image

Published In

Ecology Letters

DOI

ISSN

1461-023X

Publication Date

October 1, 2003

Volume

6

Issue

10

Start / End Page

944 / 952

Related Subject Headings

  • Ecology
  • 4104 Environmental management
  • 4102 Ecological applications
  • 3103 Ecology
  • 0603 Evolutionary Biology
  • 0602 Ecology
  • 0501 Ecological Applications