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© 2021. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

Recent studies showing bias in the measurement of density dependence have the potential to sow confusion in the field of ecology. We provide clarity by elucidating key conceptual and statistical errors with null‐model approaches used in recent studies of density dependence. Importantly, we show that neither a relabeling null model nor a more biologically appropriate null model reproduces differences in density‐dependent recruitment between tropical and temperate forests, indicating that the latitudinal gradient in negative density dependence is not an artifact of statistical bias. We also suggest a path forward that combines observational comparisons of density dependence in multiple fitness components across localities with mechanistic and geographically replicated experiments.

Details

Title
Conspecific negative density dependence and why its study should not be abandoned
Author
LaManna, Joseph A 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Mangan, Scott A 2 ; Myers, Jonathan A 3   VIAFID ORCID Logo 

 Department of Biological Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Departments of Botany & Zoology, Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA 
 Department of Biological Sciences, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, Arkansas, USA 
 Department of Biology & Tyson Research Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA 
Section
Articles
Publication year
2021
Publication date
Jan 2021
Publisher
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
e-ISSN
21508925
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2482058897
Copyright
© 2021. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.