Disturbance is the principal α-scale filter determining niche differentiation, coexistence and biodiversity in an alpine community

• Published in: The Journal of ecology Vol. 95; no. 4; pp. 698 - 706
• Main Authors: PIERCE, SIMON, LUZZARO, ALESSANDRA, CACCIANIGA, MARCO, CERIANI, ROBERTA M, CERABOLINI, BRUNO
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Oxford, UK : Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.07.2007; Blackwell Publishing Ltd; Blackwell Science
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Carex; Carex curvula; co-occurrence; coexistence; correspondence analysis; CSR theory; functional diversity; functional diversity index; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; grazing; multidimensional scaling; multivariate analysis; niche differentiation; pastures; plant communities; species diversity; species richness; stress response; stress tolerance; topology; vegetation; niche differentiation; Theory; CSR theory; functional diversity index; Coexistence; Perturbation; Biodiversity; Functional diversity; co-occurrence; Ecological niche; Differentiation; Community; Species richness

1 Many current biodiversity theories assume that resource competition determines niche segregation and thus coexistence within communities (i.e. at the α-scale). However, the action of disturbance, creating heterogeneous environments and suppressing potential dominants, may also be important for bio...