Diversity in tropical rain forests and coral reefs
The commonly observed high diversity of trees in tropical rain forests and corals on tropical reefs is a nonequilibrium state which, if not disturbed further, will progress toward a low-diversity equilibrium community. This may not happen if gradual changes in climate favor different species. If equ...
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| Published in | Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 199; no. 4335; p. 1302 |
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| Main Author | |
| Format | Journal Article |
| Language | English |
| Published |
United States
24.03.1978
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| Online Access | Get more information |
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| Summary: | The commonly observed high diversity of trees in tropical rain forests and corals on tropical reefs is a nonequilibrium state which, if not disturbed further, will progress toward a low-diversity equilibrium community. This may not happen if gradual changes in climate favor different species. If equilibrium is reached, a lesser degree of diversity may be sustained by niche diversification or by a compensatory mortality that favors inferior competitors. However, tropical forests and reefs are subject to severe disturbances often enough that equilibrium may never be attained. |
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| ISSN: | 0036-8075 |
| DOI: | 10.1126/science.199.4335.1302 |