Comment on ‘‘Neutral Ecological Theory Reveals Isolation and Rapid Speciation in a Biodiversity Hot Spot’’

estimate parameters of Hubbell’s neutral model of biodiversity. Reanalysis with the exact likelihood not only yields different estimates but also shows that two similar likelihood maxima for very different parameter combinations can occur. This reveals a limitation of using species abundance data to gain insight into speciation and dispersal. I n a recent study, Latimer et al. (1) used Hubbell_s (2) neutral model of biodi-versity to study speciation and dispersal limitation in a Fynbos community in South Africa. This community has been known for its high speciation rates (3, 4) and low migration rates (5). By fitting the neutral model to species abundance data from this community, Latimer et al. (1) suggested that the neutral model can simultaneously confirm these facts. The