Lottery models of natural communities are considered neutral because they assume that
A) communities having low diversity have an advantage.
B) communities having few resources have an advantage.
C) all species have equal opportunities to obtain resources.
D) all species must compete strongly to obtain resources.
E) there is always a dominant competitor in a community.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Lottery models assume that all species have equal opportunities to obtain resources, meaning that competition is not a major factor in determining community structure. This is what makes the models "neutral." Choices A, B, D, and E all suggest some form of advantage or competition, which goes against the basic assumptions of lottery models.

Lottery Models of Natural Communities Are Considered Neutral Because They