@article {731946,
	title = {An empirical model of species coexistence in a spatially structured environment},
	journal = {Ecology},
	volume = {82},
	number = {6},
	year = {2001},
	note = {<p>446PGTimes Cited:79Cited References Count:64</p>},
	month = {Jun},
	pages = {1761-1771},
	abstract = {<p>Ecological theory has long supported the idea that species coexistence in a homogeneous habitat is promoted by spatial structure, but empirical evidence for this hypothesis has lagged behind theory. Here we describe a Neotropical ant-plant symbiosis that is ideally suited for testing spatial models of coexistence. Two genera of ants, Allomerus cf. demerarae and three species of Azteca are specialized to live on a single species of ant-plant, Cordia nodosa, in a Western Amazonian tropical rain forest. Empirically, using census data from widely separated localities, we show that the relative colonization abilities of the two ant genera are a function of plant density. A parameterized model shows that this pattern alone is sufficiently robust to explain coexistence in;the system. Census and experimental data suggest that Azteca queens are better long-distance flyers, but that Allomerus colonies are more fecund. Thus, Azteca can dominate in areas where host-plant densities are low land parent colony-sapling distances are long), and Allomerus can dominate in areas where host-plant densities are high. Existing spatial heterogeneity in host-plant densities therefore can allow regional coexistence, and intersite dispersal can produce local mixing. In conclusion, a dispersal-fecundity trade-off appears to allow the two genera to treat spatial heterogeneity in patch density as a niche axis. This study further suggests that a spatially structured approach is essential in understanding the persistence of some mutualisms in the presence of parasites.</p>},
	keywords = {allomerus, ant-plant mutualism, ant-plant symbiosis, azteca, Community structure, competition, competition-colonization trade-off, cordia nodosa, dispersal-fecundity trade-off, Evolution, habitat destruction and selection hypotheses, lottery model, metapopulation, Parasite, recruitment limitation, seed size, source-sink dynamics, space, storage effect, trade-off, variability, yucca moths},
	isbn = {0012-9658},
	author = {Yu, D. W. and Wilson, H. B. and Pierce, N. E.}
}
