Variable niche breadth in benthic diatoms: Implications of ecological specialization and generalization for community structure

摘要: Abstract The mechanisms that regulate the composition and structure of biological communities remain poorly understood. Diatom have traditionally been assumed to be a collection r-selected, ecologically redundant generalist taxa with distributions constrained largely by dispersal limitation. Here, we challenge this notion presenting novel model uses distributional data estimate ecological specialization for groups diatom taxa. We further develop evaluate relationships among specialization, taxonomic richness, species’ abundance using field collected from ancient Lake Matano broader Malili Lakes system (Sulawesi, Indonesia), as well Mazinaw (Ontario, Canada). demonstrated niche breadth is highly variable both at assemblage scale genera within assemblages. Ecologically-specialized exhibited higher richness than their counterparts, suggesting serves support sympatric coexistence multiple species limiting competitive interactions congeneric This assertion supported patterns, which suggested resources are evenly partitioned specialist genera, while less-specialized composed either exceptionally high or low abundances reflective relative success in one another. Our findings indicate often-overlooked complement rare assemblages fact entities respond most sensitively environmental conditions worthy far greater consideration assessment paleolimnological studies.