What drives diversity patterns?

Protist microcosm experiments including 15 different species (left photos, clockwise: Blepharisma, Euglena gracilis, Paramecium bursaria and Colpidium) were used to test the effect of active dispersal along dendritic versus linear networks (right photo), and subsequent effects on diversity patterns. We found that community diversity patterns were driven by an interaction of dispersal in the network structure and local species interactions. (images ©Florian Altermatt)