Comment on "Neutral ecological theory reveals isolation and rapid speciation in a biodiversity hot spot".
Latimer et al. (Reports, 9 September 2005, p. 1722) used an approximate likelihood function to estimate parameters of Hubbell's neutral model of biodiversity. Reanalysis with the exact likelihood not only yields different estimates but also shows that two similar likelihood maxima for very different parameter combinations can occur. This reveals a limitation of using species abundance data to gain insight into speciation and dispersal.
Etienne
Rampal S
RS
Community and Conservation Ecology Group, University of Groningen, Box 14, 9750 AA Haren, The Netherlands. r.s.etienne@rug.nl
Latimer
Andrew M
AM
Silander
John A
JA
Cowling
Richard M
RM
D000818:Animals; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D044822:Biodiversity; D004463:Ecology; D017753:Ecosystem; D049810:Genetic Speciation; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008954:Models, Biological; D010944:Plants / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D013019:South Africa