Tilman's predicted productivity–diversity relationship shown by desert rodents (original) (raw)

Nature volume 309, pages 150–151 (1984) Cite this article

Abstract

Tilman1 has developed a model to predict the number of plant species that can coexist competitively on a limited resource base. Species diversity first increases over low resource supplies, then declines as the environment becomes richer. Although Tilman's model was developed to describe interspecific interactions between plant species, it may also apply to animal species. Tilman1 questions whether animals specialize on particular proportions of nutrients. However, we believe animals probably specialize on relatively subtle microhabitat differences, especially in a multispecies competitive regime2. Thus, microhabitats may act like nutrients. We hypothesize that animal species, too, show a peaked curve of diversity over productivity. The present data provide a confirmation of the hypothesis using rodent species. We have investigated the number of rodent species along a geographical gradient of increasing rainfall. The gradient extends from extremely poor desert habitats to those with annual rainfall over 300 mm. Because of the aridity, precipitation reflects productivity. The diversity pattern in desert rodents agrees with that predicted by Tilman for plants. It even possesses similar asymmetry, rising steeply then falling slowly. The pattern is duplicated in rocky and sandy habitats, each of which has a distinct and almost non-overlapping assemblage of species. As mean precipitation is closely correlated with the variability of precipitation, the diversity pattern might also be caused by a decline in the frequency of disturbances, models for which have been proposed by several investigators.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Subscribe to this journal

Receive 52 print issues and online access

$199.00 per year

only $3.83 per issue

Buy this article

USD 39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Additional access options:

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Tilman, D. Resource Competition and Community Structure (Princeton University Press, 1982).
    Google Scholar
  2. Rosenzweig, M. L. Ecology 62, 327–335 (1981).
    Article Google Scholar
  3. Walter, H. Jb. für wiss. Bot. 87, 750–860 (1939).
    Google Scholar
  4. Haim, A. & Tchernov, E. Mammalia 38, 201–223 (1974).
    Article Google Scholar
  5. Rosenzweig, M. L. Am. Nat. 102, 67–74 (1968).
    Article Google Scholar
  6. Brown, J. H. Ecology 54, 775–787 (1973).
    Article Google Scholar
  7. Brown, J. H. in Ecology and Evolution of Communities (eds Cody, M. L. & Diamond, J.) 315–341 (Belknap, Cambridge, 1975).
    Google Scholar
  8. Abramsky, Z., Brand, S. & Rosenzweig, M. L. (submitted).
  9. Rosenzweig, M. L. Science 171, 385–387 (1971).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  10. Rosenzweig, M. L. in Ecology and Evolution of Communities (eds Cody, M. & Diamond, J.) 121–140 (Belknap, Cambridge, 1975).
    Google Scholar
  11. MacArthur, R. H. Geogr. Ecol. (Harper & Row, New York, 1972).
    Google Scholar
  12. McNaughton, S. J. Ecology 49, 962–972 (1968).
    Article Google Scholar
  13. Abramsky, Z. Oecologia 34, 113–123 (1978).
    Article ADS Google Scholar
  14. Patrick, R. A. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 108, 359–365 (1963).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  15. Kirchner, T. Ecology 58, 1334–1344 (1977).
    Article Google Scholar
  16. Silvertown, J. J. appl. Ecol. 17, 491–5904 (1980).
    Article Google Scholar
  17. Brown, J. H. & Gibson, A. C. Biogeography (Mosby, St. Louis, 1982).
    Google Scholar
  18. Tappan, H. & Loeblich, A. R. Earth-Sci. Rev. 9, 207–240 (1973).
    Article ADS Google Scholar
  19. Oksanen, L., Fretwell, S. D., Arruda, J. & Niemela, P. Am. Nat. 118, 240–261 (1981).
    Article Google Scholar
  20. Pimm, S. L. & Rosenzweig, M. L. Oikos 37, 1–6 (1981).
    Article Google Scholar
  21. Bar, Y., Abramsky, Z. & Gutenmar, Y. J. Arid Envir. (in the press).
  22. Grime, J. J. envir. Mgmt 1, 151–167 (1973).
    Google Scholar
  23. Connell, J. H. Science 199, 1302–1310 (1978).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  24. Huston, M. Am. Nat. 113, 81–101 (1979).
    Article MathSciNet Google Scholar
  25. Levin, S. A. & Paine, R. T. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 71, 2744–2747 (1974).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar
  26. Grubb, P. Biol. Rev. 52, 107–145 (1977).
    Article Google Scholar
  27. Lubchenco, J. Am. Nat. 112, 23–39 (1978).
    Article Google Scholar
  28. Conrad, V. Mon. Weath. Rev. 69, 5–11 (1941).
    Article ADS Google Scholar

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, 85721, USA
    Z. Abramsky & M. L. Rosenzweig
  2. Department of Biology and Institute for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheva, Israel
    Z. Abramsky

Authors

  1. Z. Abramsky
  2. M. L. Rosenzweig

Rights and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Abramsky, Z., Rosenzweig, M. Tilman's predicted productivity–diversity relationship shown by desert rodents.Nature 309, 150–151 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1038/309150a0

Download citation