TY  - JOUR
AU  - Herault, B.
PY  - 2007//
TI  - Reconciling niche and neutrality through the Emergent Group approach
T2  - Perspect. Plant Ecol. Evol. Syst.
JO  - Perspectives in Plant Ecology Evolution and Systematics
SP  - 71
EP  - 78
VL  - 9
IS  - 2
PB  - ELSEVIER GMBH, URBAN & FISCHER VERLAG
KW  - Biodiversity
KW  - ecological equivalency
KW  - biological traits
KW  - neutral theory
KW  - niche differentiation
KW  - redundancy
N2  - Both niche and neutral theories have been suggested as potential frameworks for modelling biodiversity. Niche models assume that biological traits represent evolutionary adaptations and define individuals in terms of functional trade-offs. Neutral models assume that all individuals at a single trophic level are functionally equivalent on a per capita basis with respect to their birth, death, dispersal and speciation. The opinion of many researchers is that neutral and niche processes operate simultaneously to generate diversity without knowing how the unification of both models can be achieved. Recently, several theoretical papers have reported evidence on the evolutionary emergence of niche structures shaping the emergence of groups of similar species. In this way, an Emergent Group is defined as a set of species that have a similar functional niche owing to a convergent ecological strategy. Central to the Emergent Group concept are the assumptions of functional equivalence within and of functional divergence between Emergent Groups. Within an Emergent Group, species richness is subject to a zero-sum rule set by the balance between the rate of individual loss and of immigration. Between Emergent Groups, tradeoffs such as seed size/seedling competitivity, investment in reproductive system/investment in vegetative systems or competitive ability/predator invulnerability are cornerstones of the evolutionary divergence. Delineating Emergent Groups amounts to reaching a compromise between maximizing niche differentiation (i.e. maximizing differences in functional tradeoffs) between Emergent Groups and maximizing neutrality within Emergent Groups. Up to now, the Emergent Group concept has been mostly proposed by theoretical scientists but it should be tested by empirical ecologists. The way in which niche and neutral models could be combined provides a profitable opportunity for theoretical and empirical scientists to collaborate fruitfully. (c) 2007 Rubel Foundation, ETH Zurich. Published by Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.
SN  - 1433-8319
N1  - ISI:000251685100002
ID  - Herault2007
ER  -