Asymmetric competition causes multimodal size distributions in spatially structured populations
Plant sizes within populations often exhibit multimodal distributions, even when all individuals are the same age and have experienced identical conditions. To establish the causes of this, we created an individual-based model simulating the growth of trees in a spatially explicit framework, which w...
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| Format: | Article |
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Royal Society
2016
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| Online Access: | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/31516/ |
| _version_ | 1848794217796599808 |
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| author | Velázquez, Jorge Allen, Robert B. Coomes, David A. Eichhorn, Markus P. |
| author_facet | Velázquez, Jorge Allen, Robert B. Coomes, David A. Eichhorn, Markus P. |
| author_sort | Velázquez, Jorge |
| building | Nottingham Research Data Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Plant sizes within populations often exhibit multimodal distributions, even when all individuals are the same age and have experienced identical conditions. To establish the causes of this, we created an individual-based model simulating the growth of trees in a spatially explicit framework, which was parametrized using data from a long-term study of forest stands in New Zealand. First, we demonstrate that asymmetric resource competition is a
necessary condition for the formation of multimodal size distributions within cohorts. By contrast, the legacy of small-scale clustering during recruitment is transient and quickly overwhelmed by density-dependent mortality. Complex
multi-layered size distributions are generated when established individuals are restricted in the spatial domain within which they can capture resources. The number of modes reveals the effective number of direct competitors, while
the separation and spread of modes are influenced by distances among established individuals. Asymmetric competition within local neighbourhoods can therefore generate a range of complex size distributions within even-aged cohorts. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:12:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | nottingham-31516 |
| institution | University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:12:41Z |
| publishDate | 2016 |
| publisher | Royal Society |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | nottingham-315162020-05-04T17:29:57Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/31516/ Asymmetric competition causes multimodal size distributions in spatially structured populations Velázquez, Jorge Allen, Robert B. Coomes, David A. Eichhorn, Markus P. Plant sizes within populations often exhibit multimodal distributions, even when all individuals are the same age and have experienced identical conditions. To establish the causes of this, we created an individual-based model simulating the growth of trees in a spatially explicit framework, which was parametrized using data from a long-term study of forest stands in New Zealand. First, we demonstrate that asymmetric resource competition is a necessary condition for the formation of multimodal size distributions within cohorts. By contrast, the legacy of small-scale clustering during recruitment is transient and quickly overwhelmed by density-dependent mortality. Complex multi-layered size distributions are generated when established individuals are restricted in the spatial domain within which they can capture resources. The number of modes reveals the effective number of direct competitors, while the separation and spread of modes are influenced by distances among established individuals. Asymmetric competition within local neighbourhoods can therefore generate a range of complex size distributions within even-aged cohorts. Royal Society 2016-01-27 Article PeerReviewed Velázquez, Jorge, Allen, Robert B., Coomes, David A. and Eichhorn, Markus P. (2016) Asymmetric competition causes multimodal size distributions in spatially structured populations. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 283 (1823). ISSN 1471-2954 bimodality individual-based model forests Fuscospora cliffortioides southern beech zone-of-influence http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/283/1823/20152404 doi:10.1098/rspb.2015.2404 doi:10.1098/rspb.2015.2404 |
| spellingShingle | bimodality individual-based model forests Fuscospora cliffortioides southern beech zone-of-influence Velázquez, Jorge Allen, Robert B. Coomes, David A. Eichhorn, Markus P. Asymmetric competition causes multimodal size distributions in spatially structured populations |
| title | Asymmetric competition causes multimodal size distributions in spatially structured populations |
| title_full | Asymmetric competition causes multimodal size distributions in spatially structured populations |
| title_fullStr | Asymmetric competition causes multimodal size distributions in spatially structured populations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Asymmetric competition causes multimodal size distributions in spatially structured populations |
| title_short | Asymmetric competition causes multimodal size distributions in spatially structured populations |
| title_sort | asymmetric competition causes multimodal size distributions in spatially structured populations |
| topic | bimodality individual-based model forests Fuscospora cliffortioides southern beech zone-of-influence |
| url | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/31516/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/31516/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/31516/ |