Neutral clustering in a simple experimental ecological community

The spatial distribution of most species in ecosystems is nonuniform. New theories try to explain patterns observed at multiple scales in terms of neutral processes such as birth, death, and migration. We have devised an experimental, niche-free ecosystem where the amplitude of neutral patchiness can be precisely measured. Spatial distribution of species in this system is extremely clustered. We demonstrate that this clustering is entirely attributed to neutral causes and show that the most basic properties of life can provoke intricate spatial structures without clues from the environment.