Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 6, 2026
11:53
Spatial Multiobjective Optimization of Agricultural Conservation Practices using a SWAT Model and an Evolutionary Algorithm
Published on: December 9, 2012
12.6K
A three-way trade-off maintains functional diversity under variable resource supply.
Kyle F Edwards1, Christopher A Klausmeier, Elena Litchman
1Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State University, Hickory Corners, Michigan 49060.
The American Naturalist
|November 16, 2013
Summary
Organisms adapt to fluctuating resources through traits like growth and nutrient storage. This study reveals a trade-off in phytoplankton, explaining species coexistence and community structure.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Organismal resource needs fluctuate, driving adaptations to variable supply.
- Understanding functional trade-offs is key to explaining community trait structure and species coexistence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate trade-offs between maximum growth rate, phosphorus (P) competitive ability, and P storage in phytoplankton.
- To model competition under pulsed P supply using empirical trait data.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of phytoplankton species' traits.
- Parameterization of a mechanistic competition model with empirical trait covariation.
- Simulation of competition under varying nutrient regimes, productivity, and mortality.
Main Results:
- Evidence found for a three-way trade-off among maximum growth rate, P competitive ability, and P storage.
- Model demonstrates that different strategies are favored under distinct environmental conditions.
- Model predicts coexistence of multiple strategies, with trait ranges mirroring natural communities.
Conclusions:
- Mechanistic models integrating empirical trait data and community structure are crucial for understanding ecological diversity.
- Functional trade-offs significantly shape phytoplankton community assembly and trait distribution.
- Phytoplankton exhibit complex adaptations to nutrient variability, influencing ecosystem dynamics.
Related Concept Videos
00:48Optimal Foraging
11.9K
How animals obtain and eat their food is called foraging behavior. Foraging can include searching for plants and hunting for prey and depends on the species and environment.
11.9K
02:12Short-distance Transport of Resources
14.9K
Short-distance transport refers to transport that occurs over a distance of just 2-3 cells, crossing the plasma membrane in the process. Small uncharged molecules, such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water, can diffuse across the plasma membrane on their own. In contrast, ions and larger molecules require the assistance of transport proteins due to their charge or size. Transport across membranes also occurs within individual cells, playing a variety of essential roles for the plant as a whole.
14.9K
02:02Ecological Niches
22.4K
All organisms have a position within an ecosystem. The complete set of living and nonliving factors—including food resources, climate, and terrain—that define the position of a given organism are collectively referred to as the organism’s ecological niche.
22.4K
01:38Limits to Natural Selection
30.0K
Organisms that are well-adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. However, natural selection does not lead to perfectly adapted organisms. Several factors constrain natural selection.
30.0K
01:21Frequency-dependent Selection
20.2K
When the fitness of a trait is influenced by how common it is (i.e., its frequency) relative to different traits within a population, this is referred to as frequency-dependent selection. Frequency-dependent selection may occur between species or within a single species. This type of selection can either be positive—with more common phenotypes having higher fitness—or negative, with rarer phenotypes conferring increased fitness.
20.2K
01:06Three-Compartment Open Model
1.2K
The three-compartment open model is a pharmacokinetic model used to describe the distribution and elimination of drugs following extravascular administration. It comprises a central compartment representing the plasma and two peripheral compartments. The highly perfused peripheral compartment represents organs and tissues with a rich blood supply, such as the liver, kidneys, and lungs. The scarcely perfused peripheral compartment represents tissues with lower blood supply, such as adipose...
1.2K