Monodominance in tropical forests: modelling reveals emerging clusters and phase transitions

摘要: Tropical forests are highly diverse ecosystems, but within such there can be large patches dominated by a single tree species. The myriad presumed mechanisms that lead to the emergence of monodominant areas is currently subject intensive research. We used most generic these mechanisms, seed mass and low dispersal ability species, in spatially explicit model. model represents seven identical species with long-distance small seeds, competing one potentially short-distance seeds. Monodominant emerged persisted only for narrow range traits; results have characteristic features phase transitions. Additional may explain monodominance different ecological contexts, our suggest percolation-like phenomena transitions might pervasive this type system.