Refining Niche Metric Calculations: A Modified Weighting Approach to Colwell and Futuyma’s Method

Creative Commons License

ÖZKAN K., ÖZDEMİR S., Muys B., DOĞAN S.

Bulletin of Mathematical Biology, vol.88, no.7, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 88 Issue: 7
  • Publication Date: 2026
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/s11538-026-01672-w
  • Journal Name: Bulletin of Mathematical Biology
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Aerospace Database, BIOSIS, EMBASE, MathSciNet, MEDLINE, zbMATH, Zoological Record, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Natural Science Collection (ProQuest), Biological Science Database (ProQuest), Biomedical Reference Collection: Corporate Edition (EBSCO), Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest), Materials Science & Engineering Collection (ProQuest), Pharma Collection (ProQuest), Technology Collection (ProQuest)
  • Keywords: Ecological niche, Habitat niche, Niche breadth, Niche overlap, Noncircularity, Resource states
  • Open Archive Collection: AVESIS Open Access Collection
  • Erzincan Binali Yildirim University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The niche concept is central to ecology, evolution, and conservation biology. To assess resource dynamics in biological communities, the most widely used niche metrics are niche breadth and niche overlap. Colwell and Futuyma (1971) were the first to propose niche metrics that incorporated resource distinctness. In their framework, niche breadth and overlap are calculated using either a relative weighting factor dj or an absolute weighting factor δj. Hanski (1978) later introduced an alternative weighting factor δj∗, which accounts for both the quality and quantity of resource states in niche calculations. However, metrics based on dj, δj and δj∗ have inherent mathematical and conceptual limitations. To overcome these issues, the present study introduces modified forms of these factors (edj, eδj and eδj∗) and evaluates their performance using eight hypothetical and one empirical (ecological) resource matrix. The findings indicate that niche metrics incorporating the edj factor represent the most coherent and biologically meaningful option.