Rare species occupy uncommon niches

• DOI: 10.1038/srep06012
• Publication Date: 2014-08-11T09:04:47Z
• Authors: John Markham
• Keywords: 0106 biological sciences; Population Dynamics; Biodiversity; 15. Life on land; Poaceae; Grassland; Models, Biological; 01 natural sciences; Article

The fact that temperate grasslands often contain upwards of 30 vascular plant species per m(2) yet these seem to have relatively similar life histories and resource requirements has made explaining coexistence in communities a major focus research. While the reduction competition by disturbance been popular explanation for coexistence, tallgrass prairies any level either no effect, or decreases diversity, since it favors dominant plants. Although there long speculation grassland could coexist niche partitioning concept received renewed interest when was shown soil hydrology explain coexistence. One aspect community structure not explained is rareness commonness within communities. There are three classes explanations rareness: narrow habitat requirements, low competitive ability combined with frequency dependent fitness and, dispersal ability. However, evidence tend be anecdotal, focusing on particular species. Here I show common rare consistently occupy different parts space, being restricted cover occupying available niches.