Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1098/rsif.2016.0123
Title (Primary) Monodominance in tropical forests: modelling reveals emerging clusters and phase transitions
Author Kazmierczak, M.; Backmann, P.; Fedriani, J.M.; Fischer, R. ORCID logo ; Hartmann, A.K.; Huth, A.; May, F.; Müller, M.S.; Taubert, F.; Grimm, V.; Groeneveld, J.
Source Titel Journal of the Royal Society Interface
Year 2016
Department OESA; iDiv
Volume 13
Issue 117
Page From art. 0123
Language englisch
Keywords criticality; dispersal; phase transitions; percolation; simulation; single-species dominance
UFZ wide themes RU5;
Abstract Tropical forests are highly diverse ecosystems, but within such forests there can be large patches dominated by a single tree species. The myriad presumed mechanisms that lead to the emergence of such monodominant areas is currently the subject of intensive research. We used the most generic of these mechanisms, large seed mass and low dispersal ability of the monodominant species, in a spatially explicit model. The model represents seven identical species with long-distance dispersal of small seeds, competing with one potentially monodominant species with short-distance dispersal of large seeds. Monodominant patches emerged and persisted only for a narrow range of species traits; these results have the characteristic features of phase transitions. Additional mechanisms may explain monodominance in different ecological contexts, but our results suggest that percolation-like phenomena and phase transitions might be pervasive in this type of system.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=17319
Kazmierczak, M., Backmann, P., Fedriani, J.M., Fischer, R., Hartmann, A.K., Huth, A., May, F., Müller, M.S., Taubert, F., Grimm, V., Groeneveld, J. (2016):
Monodominance in tropical forests: modelling reveals emerging clusters and phase transitions
J. R. Soc. Interface 13 (117), art. 0123 10.1098/rsif.2016.0123