title: Comment on "Functional traits and niche-based tree community assembly in an Amazonian forest".
abstract: Kraft et al. (Reports, 24 October 2008, p. 580) used a variety of metrics describing the distribution of functional traits within a tropical forest community to demonstrate simultaneous environmental filtering and niche differentiation. We discuss how these results could have arisen from sampling design and statistical assumptions, suggesting alternative approaches that could better resolve these questions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Kraus Natural Sciences Building, 830 North University, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. lakejk@umich.edu
authors.forename: Jeffrey K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lake
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ostling
mesh_terms: D044822:Biodiversity; D017753:Ecosystem; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D012494:Sampling Studies; D015983:Selection Bias; D013045:Species Specificity; D014197:Trees / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development; D014329:Tropical Climate