Ecological Neutral Theory — Hubbell Model

Zero-sum ecological drift · Species abundance distribution · Fisher log-series

Community Parameters

Species richness S:
Θ = 2Jν:
Shannon H:
Simpson D:
Hubbell's neutral theory: all individuals are ecologically equivalent; community changes by birth-death-immigration.

Θ = 2Jν (biodiversity number)

At equilibrium, SAD follows the Ewens sampling formula; Fisher log-series in the limit:
E[Sₙ] = Θ xⁿ/n (n individuals)

Immigration m controls metacommunity coupling. Low m → drift dominates → fewer species.