Contemporary niche theory is a powerful framework for understanding URLanisms interact with each other and with their shared environment. The graphical representationof the theory, as popularized by Tilman  , facilitates the analysis of the equilibrium structure of complex dynamical models including species coexistence. This approach has so far been applied primarily to situations of resource competition , in accord with the general focus of work on ecological interactions since the 1970's. In this manuscript, we expand contemporary niche theory to integrate mutualistic interactions through a systematic analysis of mutualistic plant-pollinator networks. Specifically, we investigate the dynamics of a consumer-resource model of plant-pollinator interactions that has been extensively studied in numerical simulations and whose predictions have been tested against field data. We provide simple explanations in graphical terms for the qualitative phenomena consistently found by extensive numerical simulations, including the effects of nestedness and adaptive foragingon community dynamics, and the effects of invasions by new pollinator species. We also use this representation to highlight general similarities and differences between mutualistic systems and the more well-studied scenarios of pure competition .
Contemporary Niche Theory is a useful framework for understanding URLanisms interact with each other and with their shared environment. Its graphical representation, popularized by Tilman 's Resource Ratio Hypothesis , facilitates the analysis of the equilibrium structure of complex dynamical models including species coexistence. This theory has been applied primarily to resource competition since its early beginnings. Here, we integrate mutualism into niche theory by expanding Tilman's graphical representation to the analysis of consumer-resource dynamics of plant-pollinator networks. We graphically explain the qualitative phenomena previously found by numerical simulations, including the effects on community dynamics of nestedness, adaptive foraging, and pollinator invasions. Our graphical approach promotes the unification of niche and network theories, and deepens the synthesis of different types of interactions within a consumer-resource framework .
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's Resource Ratio Hypothesis
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situations of resource competition , in accord with the general focus of work on ecological interactions since the 1970's. In this manuscript, we expand contemporary niche theory to integrate mutualistic interactions through a systematic analysis of mutualistic
resource competition since its early beginnings. Here, we integrate mutualism into niche theory by expanding Tilman's graphical representation to the analysis of consumer-resource dynamics of
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networks. Specifically, we investigate the dynamics of a consumer-resource model of plant-pollinator interactions that has been extensively studied in numerical simulations and whose predictions have been tested against field data. We provide simple explanations in graphical terms for
networks. We graphically explain
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consistently found by extensive
previously found by
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of nestedness and adaptive foragingon community dynamics, and the effects of invasions by new pollinator species. We also use this representation to highlight general similarities and differences between mutualistic systems and the more well-studied scenarios of pure competition
on community dynamics of nestedness, adaptive foraging, and pollinator invasions. Our graphical approach promotes the unification of niche and network theories, and deepens the synthesis of different types of interactions within a consumer-resource framework