Deterministic theories in community ecology suggest that local, niche-based processes,
such as environmental filtering, biotic interactions and interspecific trade-offs largely …

▪ Abstract The focus of most ideas on diversity maintenance is species coexistence, which
may be stable or unstable. Stable coexistence can be quantified by the long-term rates at …

Metacommunity ecology links smaller-scale processes that have been the provenance of
population and community ecology—such as birth-death processes, species interactions …

A plethora of different theories, models, and concepts make up the field of community
ecology. Amid this vast body of work, is it possible to build one general theory of ecological …

Stochastic processes can play an important role in microbial community assembly. Dispersal
limitation is one process that can increase stochasticity and obscure relationships between …

Why do species live where they live? What determines the abundance and diversity of
species in a given area? What role do species play in the functioning of entire ecosystems …

Temporary rivers and streams are among the most common and most hydrologically
dynamic freshwater ecosystems. The number of temporary rivers and the severity of flow …

Community assembly provides a conceptual foundation for understanding the processes
that determine which and how many species live in a particular locality. Evidence suggests …

I review the mathematical and biological aspects of Hubbell's (2001) neutral theory of
species abundance for ecological communities, and clarify its historical connections with …

The potential consequences of biodiversity loss for ecosystem functioning and services at
local scales have received considerable attention during the last decade, but little is known …