Document Type
Article
Journal/Book Title/Conference
Ecology Letters
Volume
16
Publication Date
2013
First Page
1177
Last Page
1185
Abstract
The species abundance distribution (SAD) is one of the most intensively studied distributions in ecology and its hollow-curve shape is one of ecology’s most general patterns. We examine the SAD in the context of all possible forms having the same richness (S) and total abundance (N), i.e. the feasible set. We find that feasible sets are dominated by similarly-shaped hollow-curves, most of which are highly correlated with empirical SADs (most R2 values > 75%), revealing a strong influence of N and S on the form of the SAD and an a priori explanation for the ubiquitous hollow-curve. Empirical SADs are often more hollow and less variable than the majority of the feasible set, revealing exceptional unevenness and relatively low natural variability among ecological communities. We discuss the importance of the feasible set in understanding how general constraints determine observable variation and influence the forms of predicted and empirical patterns.
Recommended Citation
Locey, K.J. and E.P. White. 2013. How species richness and total abundance constrain the distribution of abundance. Ecology Letters. 16:1177-1185. http://doi.org/10.1111/ele.12154
