Can the neutral theory of biodiversity contribute to conservation?

Can the neutral theory of biodiversity contribute to conservation?

Created by Marco Sciaini and Katrin Meyer

What is the "Unified" Neutral Theory?

• Theory from 2001 by ecologist Stephen Hubbell
• Counterpart of the niche theory
• Extension of the Island Biogeography Theory by MacArthur and Wilson
• Individuals of different species at the same trophic level are equivalent
• Biodiversity arises with stochasticity

What we want to achieve

• We want to synthesize current literature by evaluating the benefits and drawbacks of neutral theory for conservation

  • ... by using the niche theory as reference ...

  • ... by using papers from which only implicit conclusions for conservation efforts can be drawn ...

  • ... by using papers from which explicit conclusions for conservation efforts can be drawn ...

Before we get into details ... where do you think the neutral theory and conservation can have a "meeting point"?

Structure

What did we do to get there (in a nutshell)?

• extensive literature review

  • We searched the Web of Knowledge

  • ... with 50 individual search terms

  • categorized them by reading abstract and discussion

• based on the different categories, we wrote the current draft

Results

Niche

• Ecological niche modeling, used for:

  • delineation of conservation areas

  • assessment of habitat loss

  • invasive species management

Neutral theory with implicit conservation implications

• Implementation of the neutral theory, the so-called neutral models:

  • assessment of species richness and extinction

  • Metacommunity dynamics

Neutral theory with explicit conservation implications

• Again, neutral models were mostly used to explore:

  • Habitat fragmentation and protected areas

  • Biodiversity and extinction

  • Invasive species

Discussion

Where are the effects on conservation?

Scientific debate

• negative influence of the neutral theory on conservation
• blending the two theories together to a "truly unified theory" (Daleo et al. 2009)

SOME TOPICS TO DISCUSS:

• Where do you think could the neutral theory fit in conservation?
• Do you think it is a "hot topic", in terms of a change of paradigm?
• The field of ecology seems to be a slow adapter of "new" theories compared to phyics, good/bad?