A universal coexistence hypothesis resolves the biodiversity paradox:
Species differences that generate diverse forests
Abstract
Ecological theory aims to understand how and why species differences
allow competitors to coexist, but explanations remain inconsistent with
data. Tightly constrained parameter tradeoffs needed for coexistence in
models contrast with evidence that forests can support high diversity
and be invaded repeatedly by species that lack specialized tradeoffs. By
translating environmental responses to individual covariance, a
universal coexistence hypothesis shows i) that species differences lead
to a natural tendency to concentrate competition within the species, the
common feature needed to promote coexistence in models, and ii) the
fingerprint of this effect is available in covariances between
individuals that can be observed in nature. The many ways in which
species differ make high diversity almost inevitable. This covariance
not only provides the evidence for this mechanism; it further provides a
new direction for earth surface models that currently cannot sustain
diverse communities despite large numbers of evidence-based parameters.