Should Environmental Filtering be Abandoned?

Environmental filtering, where the environment selects against certain species, is thought to be a major mechanism structuring communities. However, recent criticisms cast doubt on our ability to accurately infer filtering because competition can give rise to patterns identical to those caused by environmental filtering. While experiments can distinguish mechanisms, observational patterns are especially problematic. The environment determines community composition not only directly via survival, but also by influencing competition. If species population growth rates covary with environmental gradients, then outcomes of competitive exclusion will also vary with the environment. Here, we argue that observational studies remain valuable, but inferences about the importance of the environment cannot rely on compositional data alone, and that species abundances, population growth, or traits must be correlated with the environment. Environmental filtering, where the environment selects against certain species, is thought to be a major mechanism structuring communities. However, recent criticisms cast doubt on our ability to accurately infer filtering because competition can give rise to patterns identical to those caused by environmental filtering. While experiments can distinguish mechanisms, observational patterns are especially problematic. The environment determines community composition not only directly via survival, but also by influencing competition. If species population growth rates covary with environmental gradients, then outcomes of competitive exclusion will also vary with the environment. Here, we argue that observational studies remain valuable, but inferences about the importance of the environment cannot rely on compositional data alone, and that species abundances, population growth, or traits must be correlated with the environment. The role of the environment for shaping community composition has been criticized recently. Other mechanisms, such as competition, could produce similar patterns to environmental filtering. We recognize that competition and the environment do not have separable affects on species and their interactions. Researchers should use additional information to determine whether fitness–environment covariances influence composition. The role of the environment for shaping community composition has been criticized recently. Other mechanisms, such as competition, could produce similar patterns to environmental filtering. We recognize that competition and the environment do not have separable affects on species and their interactions. Researchers should use additional information to determine whether fitness–environment covariances influence composition. also referred to as ‘underdispersion’; refers to communities comprising species that are more similar to one another (measured as functional or phylogenetic distances) than expected by chance. the mean, range, or variance of functional or phylogenetic distances within communities; usually relative to a null distribution. the extent of trait differences in a community or assemblage; measures may include the mean, total, or distribution of these trait differences. refers to communities comprising species that are more dissimilar to one another (measured as functional or phylogenetic diversity) than expected by chance. the extent of differences in evolutionary history in a community or assemblage; measures may include the mean, total, or distribution of phylogenetic distances. the set of species at a larger geographic scale that includes the community of interest; often believed to represent the pool of potential colonists that could reach a specific habitat.