Towards a spatial coexistence theory for species rich communities

Introduction

Ecologists have tried for long to explain the coexistence of many competing species in communities such as tropical forests, but this key question of ecological theory remains largely unresolved. We argue that this failure originates as a scaling problem.

Scaling Problem

Although plants compete mostly with their closest neighbours, the phenomenological models of most approaches addressing this question do not consider spatial mechanisms. Specifically, these models fail to account for how the dynamics and patterns at the “macroscopic” community scale emerge from the collective behaviour and interactions of individuals at the “microscopic” neighbourhood scale.

Proposed Approach

We therefore propose to change the way the problem is tackled by incorporating this essential information into macroscopic mathematical models.

Project Objectives

The overarching objective of the project is to develop a spatially-explicit theory for understanding the dynamics and stability of plant communities of intermediate to high species richness at local scales.

Methodology

We integrate state-of-the-art mathematical and simulation approaches with methods from physics and spatial analysis of the best available spatial data, such as:

• ForestGEO inventory data of 20-50 ha forest plots
• Species identity, size, and location of >100,000 trees

The link to the microscopic scale of individual plants allows us to integrate ecological detail in unprecedented ways while keeping the theory tractable.

Significance of the Research

Such a comprehensive and highly integrated research endeavour can only be tackled within the framework of a large project and will be a groundbreaking advance at this final frontier of ecological research.

Expected Outcomes

The project will provide:

1. Theoretical expectations and mechanistic understanding of how multiple (spatial) patterns and processes shape species richness.
2. Insights into whether simple laws govern the assembly and dynamics of complex species-rich communities.

This proposal will also open the door to new research lines of spatial ecology to better understand and conserve biodiversity.