Abstract

In the past two decades there has been a high-profile debate between two frameworks for exploring biodiversity in ecology: the niche-based framework and the neutral framework. This paper discusses contrasting approaches to forge a causal relationship between the niche theory and the neutral theory. The first approach suggests that evolution for niche _differentiation_ may lead to neutrality, and the second suggests that evolution for niche _convergence_ may do so. Although counterintuitive and rarely considered, here I argue that the differentiation hypothesis is more promising. As will be demonstrated, adopting this hypothesis has notable implications for how the neutral theory is received.