On a solution of the biodiversity paradox and a competitive coexistence principle

The biodiversity paradox is the central problem in theoretical ecology. The paradox consists in the contradiction between the competitive exclusion principle and the observed biodiversity. This contradiction is the key subject of the long-standing and continuing biodiversity debates. The paradox impedes our insights into biodiversity conservation. Previously we proved that due to a soliton-like behaviour of population waves complete competitors can indefinitely coexist in one closed homogeneous habitat on one and the same limiting resource under constant conditions of environment, without any trade-offs and cooperations. As this fact violates the known formulations of the competitive exclusion principle we have reformulated the principle. Here we explain why this reformulation of the principle results in a solution of the biodiversity paradox. In addition, we generalize the competitive exclusion principle. Reasoning by contradiction, we formulate a generalized principle of competitive coexistence. These principles expand theoretical basis for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. There is a long-standing question in theoretical ecology – How so many superficially similar species coexist together? [1, 2, 3] Trying to answer on this question ecologists came to the biodiversity paradox [2, 4, 5]. In theory, according the competitive exclusion principle, complete competitors cannot coexist [6]. In practice there are examples of such coexistence: rain forests [7], coral reefs [8], grasslands [9], plankton communities [2, 4]. The paradox consists in the contradiction between the competitive exclusion principle and the observed biodiversity. “The apparent contradiction between competitive exclusion and the species richness found in nature has been a long-standing enigma” [2]. “Resolving the diversity paradox became a central issue in theoretical ecology” [5]. The key question in this long-standing problem is a validity of the competitive exclusion principle. “Is it true?” [6] 1 not peer-reviewed) is the author/funder. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was . http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/003095 doi: bioRxiv preprint first posted online Feb. 27, 2014;