UVA scientists make major breakthrough in biodiversity research

UVA scientists discover mathematical law explaining why some species dominate and others stay rare, solving a century-old mystery in biodiversity research.

From the abundance of squirrels in urban parks to the prevalence of certain car brands on city streets, nature follows fascinating patterns in how different species or types distribute themselves within communities. Now, researchers at the University of Virginia have made a breakthrough in understanding these distribution patterns, solving a century-old ecological question.

A universal law of nature discovered

A comprehensive study analyzing 30,000 datasets has revealed that a mathematical model called the “powerbend distribution” can predict species abundance across all forms of life, from trees and animals to microscopic bacteria. This groundbreaking research, published in Nature Communications in April, will aid biodiversity conservation efforts for years to come.

The research team found that whether examining tree species across the United States or bacterial communities in the human gut, the same pattern emerges: A few species dominate while most others remain rare. “This is the first study to comprehensively examine all types of organisms, large and small,” Martin Wu, the study’s co-author and biology professor at UVA, told UVA Today. “We found that the powerbend distribution consistently fits communities of all life forms, habitats and abundance scales.”

Applications in conservation and biodiversity

The discovery provides invaluable tools for conservation efforts and biodiversity assessment. This is because the mathematical model will allow scientists to make reliable estimates of species distribution without having to count every individual organism. For instance, researchers can now better estimate bacterial species in soil samples without exhaustive enumeration.

The breakthrough has particular significance for microbial research. “You can go to a forest to survey trees or use binoculars to look at birds, but until recent DNA sequencing technologies became available [in the year 2008], we couldn’t easily survey microbes,” Wu explained. However, with major advances in DNA sequencing, it is now possible to survey microbial data more thoroughly.

The model’s applications also extend beyond natural ecosystems. Wu points out that similar patterns appear in human society: “If you walk around UVA, you might see a lot of squirrels and, only once in a while, a raccoon or fox. If you look at cars on city streets, you’ll see a lot of Hondas, Toyotas or Fords, but there are many other brands you only see every once in a while.” This universal mathematical law not only advances our understanding of life’s fundamental patterns but also equips scientists with powerful new tools to protect biodiversity. With it, we can better understand and protect the delicate balance of species in our rapidly changing world.