Phenotypic variability promotes diversity and stability in competitive communities.

Abstract:

:Intraspecific variation is at the core of evolutionary theory, and yet, from an ecological perspective, we have few robust expectations for how this variation should affect the dynamics of large communities. Here, by adapting an approach from evolutionary game theory, we show that the incorporation of phenotypic variability into competitive networks dramatically alters the dynamics across ecological timescales, stabilising the systems and buffering the communities against demographic perturbations. The beneficial effects of phenotypic variability are strongest when there are substantial differences among phenotypes and when phenotypes are inherited with moderately high fidelity; yet even low levels of variation lead to significant increases in diversity, stability, and robustness. By identifying a simple and ubiquitous stabilising force in competitive communities, this work contributes to our core understanding of how biological diversity is maintained in natural systems.

journal_name

Ecol Lett

journal_title

Ecology letters

authors

Maynard DS,Serván CA,Capitán JA,Allesina S

doi

10.1111/ele.13356

subject

Has Abstract

pub_date

2019-11-01 00:00:00

pages

1776-1786

issue

11

eissn

1461-023X

issn

1461-0248

journal_volume

22

pub_type

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