C–P relationship predicted for each major theory and the Goldberg meta-analysis.

Note: Predictions are based on Grime [10], [11], [12], Bertness and Callaway [37], Maestre et al.[40], Newman [13], Tilman [3], [14], Goldberg et al.[1], and Davis et al. [5]. Cells containing a + mean that we expect increasing competition along the gradient, cells with a 0 mean that we expect a non-significant relationship, and cells with a − mean we expect a negative relationship. If a cell is left blank, then that particular metric or gradient does not apply to that theory. The column labelled this study refers to our findings and will be explained further in the results and discussion.