Niche Versus Neutral Structure in Populations and Communities

中性理论的发展对我们理解基因、细胞、种群和群落的动力学产生了深远的影响，它阐明了类型具有同等适应性，因此随机或偶然事件具有主导影响的情况。 特别是，中性理论提供了一个空模型，其失败表明，当机制以外的机会是重要的。 然而，生物学家仍然缺乏一种测试中性理论的方法，这种理论可以清楚地识别驱动任何专业化或分化的特征差异。 这个项目的目标是探索一个新的想法来测试中性理论，使用物种丰富度，相对丰富度和沿沿着性状轴的遗传模式。 如果有形的，由此产生的理论将明确识别重要的性状差异，并在人口和社区context.Results的不确定性和复杂性是强大的，从这个项目可以为大量的未来工作奠定了基础，旨在获得在特定系统中保持多样性的机制的理解，知识是至关重要的，我们的能力来管理，保护和恢复我们的生物资源。 此外，研究人员将努力鼓励妇女参与数学生物学，方法是在密歇根大学科学与工程项目妇女组织的女孩夏令营中，就与研究有关的主题举办一个焦点小组。 最后，PI将把研究纳入普通生态学和人口与社区生态学课程，并在网上提供教材。

The development of neutral theory has had a profound influence on our understanding of the dynamics of genes, cells, populations and communities by illuminating the case in which types are of equal fitness and hence random or chance events have predominant influence. In particular, neutral theory provides a null model whose failures indicate when mechanisms other than chance are important. However, biologists still lack a way of testing neutral theory that clearly identifies the trait differences driving any specialization or differentiation that exists. The goal of this project is to explore a novel idea for testing neutral theory, using patterns of species' richness, relative abundance, and phylogeny along trait axes. If tangible, the resulting theory would both clearly identify important trait differences, and be robust to uncertainty and complexity in both the population and community contexts.Results from this project could set the stage for a great deal of future work aimed at gaining an understanding of the mechanisms maintaining diversity in specific systems, knowledge that is vital to our ability to manage, conserve, and restore our biological resources. In addition, the investigators will work to encourage the participation of women in mathematical biology by running a focus group on topics related to the research at a summer camp for girls organized by the Women in Science and Engineering program at the University of Michigan. Finally, the PI will integrate the research into General Ecology and Population and Community Ecology courses, and make teaching materials available on-line.