Application of Genotype‐Environment Interaction Analysis to Niche Quantification

Abstract

Current methods of calculating niche breadth are often inadequate for plant study. Classical analysis techniques of genotype—environment interaction are offered as a better method of quantifying the niches of organisms, particularly plants. The analysis which is widely used in the fields of genetics and crop and stock breeding can be used to examine ecological relationships between genotypes in a population, populations of a species, or species within a community. The analysis gives measures of the relative niche breadth (equability) and magnitude of response between organims being compared. All that is required for input into the analysis is the performance of each organism (entity) in a number of environments (states). Quantification of the environment is not necessary and different resource gradients can be lumped together in a single analysis. A step—by—step description of the analysis is given. The techniques are demonstrated with two examples, one using a hypothetical data set and the other employing data from the classic experiments of Clausen, Keck, and Hiesey on Potentialla glandulosa. This analysis has advantages over classical niche metrics in that the magnitude or level of response of organisms is measured as well as the breadth of response.