Data from: The effects of temporal resolution on species turnover and on testing metacommunity models
Cite this dataset
Tomašových, Adam; Kidwell, Susan M. (2010). Data from: The effects of temporal resolution on species turnover and on testing metacommunity models [Dataset]. Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.1172
Abstract
Patterns of low temporal turnover in species composition found within
long paleoecological time series contrast with the high turnover
predicted by dispersal-limited neutral metacommunity models and thus have been used to support non-neutral models. However, predictions assume temporal resolution on the scale of a season or year whereas
individual fossil assemblages are typically time-averaged to decadal
or centennial time scales. Here, we simulate the effects of time
averaging by building time-averaged assemblages from local
dispersal-limited non-averaged (living) assemblages and compare the
predicted species turnover with observed patterns in mollusk and
ostracod fossil records. Time averaging substantially reduces temporal
turnover such that neutral predictions converge with those of
trade-off and density-dependent models, and tends to decrease species
dominance and increase the proportion of rare species. Observed
turnover rates are comparable to an appropriately scaled neutral model: patterns of high community stability can be produced or
reinforced by time averaging alone. The community attributes of local
time-averaged assemblages approach those of the metacommunity.
Time-averaged assemblages are thus unlikely to capture attributes
arising from processes operating at small spatial scales, but should
do well at capturing the turnover and diversity parameters of
metacommunities, and thus will be a valuable basis for analyzing the
large-scale processes that determine metacommunity evolution.
Usage notes
Location
Texas
Copano Bay
Lake Tanganyika