Nonequilibrium Ecology (Ecology, Biodiversity and Conservation)

Cover......Page 1
Half-title......Page 3
Title......Page 5
Copyright......Page 6
Dedication......Page 7
Contents......Page 9
Acknowledgements......Page 12
Introduction......Page 13
Concepts of equilibrium (balance of nature) and nonequilibrium......Page 15
History of equilibrium and nonequilibrium ecology: some milestones in the evolution of ideas......Page 18
Regulation and equilibrium in ecological systems: some experiments and a critical discussion of arguments given in favour of equilibrium......Page 25
Nonequilibrium in populations and metapopulations: some empirical studies......Page 29
Defining the problem......Page 36
Definition and evolution of communities......Page 39
Equilibrium, and disturbance leading to nonequilibrium......Page 44
Species nonsaturation and nonequilibria......Page 51
Definition and types of competition......Page 61
Resource limitation......Page 62
Limiting similarity and ecological character displacement......Page 64
Habitat segregation as evidence for interspecific competition......Page 67
Reduction in the number of sympatric congeners as evidence for competition......Page 68
Effects of competition on microhabitat width......Page 70
Competitive exclusion and its prevention by spatial/temporal heterogeneity......Page 71
(1) Species diversity and competition, and the effects of environmental factors......Page 73
(3) Population density and competition......Page 74
Competitive speciation......Page 75
Tests for divergence due to competition......Page 76
Nonlinear dynamics (chaos) in populations and the outcome of competition......Page 77
Null models and the demonstration of interspecific competition......Page 78
Examples of competition in communities......Page 82
Examples of communities without evidence of competition......Page 84
Relationship between local and regional species diversity......Page 85
Different effects of competition in infra- and component communities......Page 88
Competition in mature and young communities......Page 89
Competition does not decide the distribution and abundance of organisms......Page 90
The occurrence and significance of interspecific competition: a conclusion......Page 91
Evidence for niche restriction even in the absence of potentially interacting species, and mechanisms responsible......Page 93
Niche segregation to ensure reinforcement of reproductive barriers......Page 97
The fossil record and interpretations......Page 102
Recent and present extinctions......Page 107
Reef fishes: density dependence and equilibrium in populations?......Page 111
Kangaroos: fluctuations in rainfall are the primary determinant of population size, but there is some ‘‘regulation’’ by negative feedback......Page 116
General considerations......Page 121
Compensatory mechanisms......Page 124
Gap dynamics (intermediate disturbance hypothesis)......Page 128
Environmental heterogeneity......Page 129
Some recent work......Page 130
Nonequilibrium in small animals and plants?......Page 132
Ectoparasites of marine fish: non-interactive unsaturated communities......Page 133
Insects on bracken, and wasps: type I communities with little evidence for interspecific competition......Page 139
Larval trematodes in snails: evidence for interspecific competition (and predation) in infracommunities, and for nonequilibrium conditions......Page 143
9 Some detailed biogeographical/macroecological patterns......Page 147
Island biogeography: evidence for equilibrium conditions?......Page 148
Inter- and intraoceanic patterns: historical events and centers of diversity are important......Page 150
Monogenea and eel parasites in the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific Oceans......Page 151
Reef fishes: geographical distribution is determined by a center of diversity and dispersal from it......Page 156
Scombrid fishes and their ectoparasites: geographical distribution is determined by centers of diversity and oceanic barriers......Page 159
Freshwater fishes: diversity is determined by the effects of latitude, area, and history, but the effect of productivity is ambiguous......Page 162
Latitudinal diversity gradients: equilibrium and nonequilibrium explanations......Page 164
Area......Page 165
Productivity......Page 167
Spatial heterogeneity......Page 168
Narrower niches in the tropics......Page 169
Alternative explanations......Page 170
Effective evolutionary time in nonequilibrium ecosystems......Page 171
General global patterns in diversity......Page 177
10 An autecological comparison: the ecology of some Aspidogastrea......Page 180
Multicotyle purvisi......Page 183
Lobatostoma manteri......Page 184
Comparison of the species, and coevolution......Page 187
Generality of the approach......Page 189
What explains the differences between communities?......Page 190
A summary, and prospects for an ecology of the future......Page 194
References......Page 201
Taxonomic index......Page 228
Subject index......Page 231