The Ecological Regulation of Species Diversity

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Abstract
The level of diversity maintained in an ecological system is determined by the amount of energy flowing through its food web. A detailed model is presented which states that with increased stability of the environment, less energy is required for regulatory activities and so more energy is allotted to net productivity. As a consequence larger populations containing more genetic variety are supported. Animals in more productive communities are more sedentary so that the gene flow between local populations is reduced. As a result, speciation is favored with interspecies associations providing the new adaptive opportunities. In the early stages, speciation occurs at an ever-increasing rate due to several mechanisms. Later on the overspecialization and smaller populations act as a regulatory mechanism.

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