Abstract
The existence of a general relation between population density and body size in animal assemblages has been debated because of known biases and ambiguities in the published data and data handling. Using new comprehensive data sets from two geographically separated stream communities that encompass 448 and 260 invertebrate taxa with a wide range of body sizes, we show that an inverse proportionality between density and body size is a consistent feature in these communities. The scaling across taxa is not statistically different between the two systems, indicating a convergent pattern of communities. Variation in the regression slope among different taxonomic groups indicates that these communities are not governed universally by a single ecological or energetic rule.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1557-1560 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Science |
| Volume | 289 |
| Issue number | 5484 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Sep 1 2000 |
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All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Medicine(all)
- General
Cite this
Relation between population density and body size in stream communities. / Schmid, P. E.; Tokeshi, M.; Schmid-Araya, J. M.
In: Science, Vol. 289, No. 5484, 01.09.2000, p. 1557-1560.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Relation between population density and body size in stream communities
AU - Schmid, P. E.
AU - Tokeshi, M.
AU - Schmid-Araya, J. M.
PY - 2000/9/1
Y1 - 2000/9/1
N2 - The existence of a general relation between population density and body size in animal assemblages has been debated because of known biases and ambiguities in the published data and data handling. Using new comprehensive data sets from two geographically separated stream communities that encompass 448 and 260 invertebrate taxa with a wide range of body sizes, we show that an inverse proportionality between density and body size is a consistent feature in these communities. The scaling across taxa is not statistically different between the two systems, indicating a convergent pattern of communities. Variation in the regression slope among different taxonomic groups indicates that these communities are not governed universally by a single ecological or energetic rule.
AB - The existence of a general relation between population density and body size in animal assemblages has been debated because of known biases and ambiguities in the published data and data handling. Using new comprehensive data sets from two geographically separated stream communities that encompass 448 and 260 invertebrate taxa with a wide range of body sizes, we show that an inverse proportionality between density and body size is a consistent feature in these communities. The scaling across taxa is not statistically different between the two systems, indicating a convergent pattern of communities. Variation in the regression slope among different taxonomic groups indicates that these communities are not governed universally by a single ecological or energetic rule.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0034284603&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0034284603&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1126/science.289.5484.1557
DO - 10.1126/science.289.5484.1557
M3 - Article
C2 - 10968792
AN - SCOPUS:0034284603
VL - 289
SP - 1557
EP - 1560
JO - Science
JF - Science
SN - 0036-8075
IS - 5484
ER -