Comment on "A keystone mutualism drives pattern in a power function"

Science. 2006 Sep 22;313(5794):1739; author reply 1739. doi: 10.1126/science.1129115.

Abstract

Vandermeer and Perfecto (Reports, 17 February 2006, p. 1000) reported a general power law pattern in the distribution of a common agricultural pest. However, there is an exact analytical solution for the expected cluster distribution under the proposed null model of density-independent growth in a patchy landscape. Reanalysis of the data shows that the system is not in a critical state but confirms the importance of a mutualism.

Publication types

  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Ants / physiology*
  • Coffea*
  • Ecosystem*
  • Hemiptera / physiology*
  • Mathematics
  • Models, Biological
  • Population Density
  • Population Growth
  • Probability
  • Symbiosis*