Body Size: The Structure and Function of Aquatic Ecosystems

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511611223

Ecologists have long struggled to predict features of ecological systems, such as the numbers and diversity of organisms. The wide range of body sizes in ecological communities, from tiny microbes to large animals and plants, is emerging as the key to prediction. Based on the relationship between body size and features such as biological rates, the physics of water and the amount of habitat available, we may be able to understand patterns of abundance and diversity, biogeography, interactions in food webs and the impact of fishing, adding up to a potential 'periodic table' for ecology. Remarkable progress on the unravelling, describing and modelling of aquatic food webs, revealing the fundamental role of body size, makes a book emphasising marine and freshwater ecosystems particularly apt. In this 2007 book, the importance of body size is examined at a range of scales that will be of interest to professional ecologists, from students to senior researchers.

'I can recommend this book to a wide audience. Not only students but experienced researchers also will find many stimulating chapters and a comprehensive list of the literature related to body size at the end of each chapter. The latter turns this book into an invaluable literature resource. …readers of this book will gain motivation to explore the importance and the limitations of body-size-related approaches to ecology in further studies.'

Source: Basic and Applied Ecology

'The metabolic theory of ecology (MTE) is a promising, upcoming conceptual framework which should be followed attentively in its future development and applications … this book will be interesting for anyone working with large databases and on the look for new applications and tests. Also, biology students wishing to be briefed on the state of the art of ecological analysis, will find this volume quite inspiring.'

Source: Zentralblatt für Geologie und Paläontologie

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-iv
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Contents
pp v-vi
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List of contributors
pp vii-viii
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Preface
pp ix-xii
- By Alan G. Hildrew, Professor of Ecology, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences Queen Mary University of London, David G. Raffaelli, Professor of Environmental Science, University of York, Ronni Edmonds-Brown, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Sciences, University of Hertfordshire
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1 - The metabolic theory of ecology and the role of body size in marine and freshwater ecosystems
pp 1-15
- By James H. Brown, University of New Mexico Albuquerque, Andrew P. Allen, National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis Santa Barbara, James F. Gillooly, University of Florida Gainesville
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2 - Body size and suspension feeding
pp 16-32
- By Stuart Humphries, Department of Animal and Plant Sciences University of Sheffield
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3 - Life histories and body size
pp 33-54
- By David Atkinson, The University of Liverpool, Andrew G. Hirst, British Antarctic Survey
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4 - Relationship between biomass turnover and body size for stream communities
pp 55-76
- By Alexander D. Huryn, University of Alabama, Arthur C. Benke, University of Alabama
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5 - Body size in streams: macroinvertebrate community size composition along natural and human-induced environmental gradients
pp 77-97
- By Colin R. Townsend, University of Otago New Zealand, Ross M. Thompson, Monash University Australia
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6 - Body size and predatory interactions in freshwaters: scaling from individuals to communities
pp 98-117
- By Guy Woodward, Queen Mary University of London, Philip Warren, University of Sheffield
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7 - Body size and trophic cascades in lakes
pp 118-139
- By J. Iwan Jones, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology UK, Erik Jeppesen, National Environmental Research Institute; University of Aarhus Denmark
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8 - Body size and scale invariance: multifractals in invertebrate communities
pp 140-166
- By Peter E. Schmid, Queen Mary University of London; University of Vienna, Jenny M. Schmid-Araya, Queen Mary University of London
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9 - Body size and biogeography
pp 167-185
- By B. J. Finlay, Natural Environment Research Council UK, G. F. Esteban, Natural Environment Research Council UK
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10 - By wind, wings or water: body size, dispersal and range size in aquatic invertebrates
pp 186-209
- By Simon D. Rundle, University of Plymouth, David T. Bilton, University of Plymouth, Andrew Foggo, University of Plymouth
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11 - Body size and diversity in marine systems
pp 210-224
- By Richard M. Warwick, Plymouth Marine Laboratory
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12 - Interplay between individual growth and population feedbacks shapes body-size distributions
pp 225-244
- By Lennart Persson, Umeå University Sweden, André M. De Roos, University of Amsterdam The Netherlands
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13 - The consequences of body size in model microbial ecosystems
pp 245-265
- By Owen L. Petchey, University of Sheffield, Zachary T. Long, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Peter J. Morin, Rutgers University
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14 - Body size, exploitation and conservation of marine organisms
pp 266-285
- By Simon Jennings, Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), John D. Reynolds, Simon Fraser University Burnaby
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15 - How body size mediates the role of animals in nutrient cycling in aquatic ecosystems
pp 286-305
- By Robert O. Hall, Jr, University of Wyoming USA, Benjamin J. Koch, University of Wyoming USA, Michael C. Marshall, University of Wyoming USA, Brad W. Taylor, University of Wyoming USA, Lusha M. Tronstad, University of Wyoming USA
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16 - Body sizes in food chains of animal predators and parasites
pp 306-325
- By Joel E. Cohen, Rockefeller and Columbia Universities New York
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17 - Body size in aquatic ecology: important, but not the whole story
pp 326-334
- By Alan G. Hildrew, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences Queen Mary University of London, David G. Raffaelli, Environment Department University of York, Ronni Edmonds-Brown, Division of Geography and Environmental Sciences University of Hertfordshire
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Index
pp 335-343
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Body Size: The Structure and Function of Aquatic Ecosystems

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-iv

Contents
pp v-vi

List of contributors
pp vii-viii

Preface
pp ix-xii

1 - The metabolic theory of ecology and the role of body size in marine and freshwater ecosystems
pp 1-15

2 - Body size and suspension feeding
pp 16-32

3 - Life histories and body size
pp 33-54

4 - Relationship between biomass turnover and body size for stream communities
pp 55-76

5 - Body size in streams: macroinvertebrate community size composition along natural and human-induced environmental gradients
pp 77-97

6 - Body size and predatory interactions in freshwaters: scaling from individuals to communities
pp 98-117

7 - Body size and trophic cascades in lakes
pp 118-139

8 - Body size and scale invariance: multifractals in invertebrate communities
pp 140-166

9 - Body size and biogeography
pp 167-185

10 - By wind, wings or water: body size, dispersal and range size in aquatic invertebrates
pp 186-209

11 - Body size and diversity in marine systems
pp 210-224

12 - Interplay between individual growth and population feedbacks shapes body-size distributions
pp 225-244

13 - The consequences of body size in model microbial ecosystems
pp 245-265

14 - Body size, exploitation and conservation of marine organisms
pp 266-285

15 - How body size mediates the role of animals in nutrient cycling in aquatic ecosystems
pp 286-305

16 - Body sizes in food chains of animal predators and parasites
pp 306-325

17 - Body size in aquatic ecology: important, but not the whole story
pp 326-334

Index
pp 335-343

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Body Size: The Structure and Function of Aquatic Ecosystems

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