Emergence of structured communities through evolutionary dynamics. (21st October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shtilerman, Elad; Kessler, David A.; Shnerb, Nadav M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of theoretical biology. Volume 383(2015)
• Page Start: 138
• Page End: 144
• Publication Date: 2015-10-21
• Subjects: Generalized Lotka–Volterra dynamics -- Speciation -- Competition -- Species coexistence -- Modularity; Biology -- Periodicals; Biological Science Disciplines -- Periodicals; Biology -- Periodicals; Biologie -- Périodiques; Theoretische biologie; Biology; Periodicals; 571.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2015.07.020
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-5193

Abstract

Abstract: Species-rich communities, in which many competing species coexist in a single trophic level, are quite frequent in nature, but pose a formidable theoretical challenge. In particular, it is known that complex competitive systems become unstable and unfeasible when the number of species is large. Recently, many studies have attributed the stability of natural communities to the structure of the interspecific interaction network, yet the nature of such structures and the underlying mechanisms responsible for them remain open questions. Here we introduce an evolutionary model, based on the generic Lotka–Volterra competitive framework, from which a stable, structured, diverse community emerges spontaneously. The modular structure of the competition matrix reflects the phylogeny of the community, in agreement with the hierarchial taxonomic classification. Closely related species tend to have stronger niche overlap and weaker fitness differences, as opposed to pairs of species from different modules. The competitive-relatedness hypothesis and the idea of emergent neutrality are discussed in the context of this evolutionary model. Abstract : Highlights: Evolutionary dynamics of a community of competing species is considered. Model creates stable systems with >100 species; solves complexity-stability problem. The emerged community has a modular structure. Closely related species have large niche overlap but small fitness differences. Relevance to many recent works on community structure, competition-relatedness, etc.