Translating bumblebee dialect…
Competitive dynamics play an important role in community assembly but are often difficult to study in natural systems due to their complexity. Here, I examine the effects of competition on community functional trait distributions. Many studies of competition have found competitive hierarchies, where dominant species with optimal traits for their environment competitively exclude less well-adapted species. I recast this model to provide predictions for the relationship between functional trait values and dominance. I analyzed these distributions of four functional traits in meadow communities along an elevation gradient and at multiple spatial scales to examine the relative role of these two processes. Height displayed generally hierarchical dynamics across variation in elevation and spatial scale, while other traits showed more mixed results. These results indicate that competition may be acting differently on different traits and resources within plant communities on many scales.
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