loading page

Incorporating eco-evolutionary interactions into a spatially explicit phylogenetic Janzen-Connell model predicts realistic macroecological and macroevolutionary patterns
  • Liang Xu,
  • Hanno Hildenbrandt,
  • Rampal Etienne
Liang Xu
Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile
Hanno Hildenbrandt
Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences
Author Profile
Rampal Etienne
University of Groningen, University of Groningen
Author Profile

Abstract

The Janzen-Connell (J-C) hypothesis states that species-specific natural enemies (pathogens, predators) induce local-density dependence which explains high diversity observed in tropical tree communities. However, these natural enemies often attack phylogenetically related species as well. Here, we use a spatially explicit model in which the continuously changing phylogeny and abundances affect recruitment to study the predictions for common diversity and phylogenetic patterns. The species-area relationship is triphasic, while the species-abundance distribution has a rare species mode (neutral scenario), a two modes (large dispersal distance) or a single interior mode (small dispersal distance). Small dispersal distance forms clusters of species with large phylogenetic distance to the community while large dispersal distance makes species distribute uniformly. Phylogenetic trees show diversification slowdowns and imbalance, consistent with empirical patterns. However, the phylogenetic relatedness effect reduces diversity. We conclude that the spatially explicit phylogenetic J-C effect explains commonly observed diversity and phylogenetic patterns.