Structure of the Body-Size Spectrum of the Biomass in Aquatic Ecosystems: A Consequence of Allometry in Predator–Prey Interactions

1993 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 1308-1317 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. L. Thiebaux ◽  
L. M. Dickie
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Aquatic Ecosystems ◽  
The Body ◽  
Ecosystem Dynamics ◽  
Size Spectrum ◽  
Quadratic Term ◽  
Predator Prey ◽  
Basic Model ◽  
Energy Transfers ◽  
Allometric Functions

An equation describing predator–prey trophic energy transfers and production within the body-size spectrum of the biomass of aquatic ecosystems is formulated using allometric functions of body size. Its solution is the sum of two parts. One is a quadratic term that gives parabolic domes of biomass, in accordance with observations in nature. A second part, which seems not to have been recognized earlier, is a periodic function of log body size having significant potential for interpreting sample data reflecting ecosystem dynamics. The formulation is fitted to fish data from a small lake to demonstrate the applicability of the basic model to observations and to examine the scales of interaction of the measures of ecosystem dynamics that may be derived from them.

Size-based approaches to aquatic ecosystems and fisheries science: a symposium in honour of Rob Peters

2016 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. 471-476 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henrique C. Giacomini ◽  
Brian J. Shuter ◽  
Julia K. Baum
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Ecosystem Dynamics ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Size Spectrum ◽  
Ecological Change ◽  
Size Spectra ◽  
Predator Prey ◽  
Fisheries Science

This special issue honours Rob Peters’ outstanding contributions to the field of aquatic ecology. It focuses on the size spectrum approach — in which individual organisms, rather than species, are the most basic biological unit — and highlights applications of this approach to fisheries management. The 21 papers in this issue cover three subject areas: (i) the use of size spectra to characterize variation in community structure, (ii) the development of size-based models of ecosystem dynamics to address fisheries questions, and (iii) applications of size-based theory to examine the consequences of variation in predator–prey size relationships, body size – trophic level relationships, and body size – life history relationships. The empirical studies herein demonstrate the utility of size spectra as indicators of population or community structure and for detecting impacts associated with environmental change. Future research focused on refining size-based sampling methods, standardizing metrics and analytical methods, understanding model sensitivity to the underlying assumptions, and comparative studies across ecosystems will enhance our ability to reliably interpret changes in size spectrum characteristics, thus facilitating their use as indicators of ecological change.

scholarly journals Allometry in desert ant locomotion (Cataglyphis albicans and Cataglyphis bicolor) – does body size matter?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanna Tross ◽  
Harald Wolf ◽  
Sarah Elisabeth Pfeffer
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Walking Speed ◽  
The Body ◽  
Size Spectrum ◽  
Similar Species ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Desert Ant ◽  
Walking Speeds ◽  
Size Matter ◽  
Cataglyphis Bicolor

Desert ants show a large range of adaptations to their habitats. They can reach extremely high running speeds, for example, to shorten heat stress during foraging trips. It has recently been examined how fast walking speeds are achieved in different desert ant species. It is intriguing in this context that some species exhibit distinct intraspecific size differences. We therefore performed a complete locomotion analysis over the entire size spectrum of the species Cataglyphis bicolor, and we compared this intraspecific data set with that of the allometrically similar species Cataglyphis albicans. Emphasis was on the allometry of locomotion: we considered the body size of each animal and analysed the data in terms of relative walking speed. Body size was observed to affect walking parameters, gait patterns and phase relations in terms of absolute walking speed. Unexpectedly, on a relative scale, all ants tended to show the same overall locomotion strategy at slow walking speeds, and significant differences occurred only between C. albicans and C. bicolor at high walking speeds. Our analysis revealed that C. bicolor ants use the same overall strategy across all body sizes, with small ants reaching the highest walking speeds (up to 80 body lengths s−1) by increasing their stride lengths and incorporating aerial phases. By comparison, C. albicans reached high walking speeds mainly by a high synchrony of leg movement, lower swing phase durations and higher stride frequencies ranging up to 40 Hz.

scholarly journals Study on evolution of a predator–prey model in a polluted environment

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 1052-1070
Author(s):  
Bing Liu ◽  
Xin Wang ◽  
Le Song ◽  
Jingna Liu
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Function Analysis ◽  
Fitness Function ◽  
Rapid Evolution ◽  
Evolutionary Model ◽  
The Body ◽  
Predator Prey ◽  
Predator Prey Model ◽  
Prey Model

In this paper, we investigate the effects of pollution on the body size of prey about a predator–prey evolutionary model with a continuous phenotypic trait in a pulsed pollution discharge environment. Firstly, an eco-evolutionary predator–prey model incorporating the rapid evolution is formulated to investigate the effects of rapid evolution on the population density and the body size of prey by applying the quantitative trait evolutionary theory. The results show that rapid evolution can increase the density of prey and avoid population extinction, and with the worsening of pollution, the evolutionary traits becomes smaller gradually. Next, by employing the adaptive dynamic theory, a long-term evolutionary model is formulated to evaluate the effects of long-term evolution on the population dynamics and the effects of pollution on the body size of prey. The invasion fitness function is given, which reflects whether the mutant can invade successfully or not. Considering the trade-off between the intrinsic growth rate and the evolutionary trait, the critical function analysis method is used to investigate the dynamics of such slow evolutionary system. The results of theoretical analysis and numerical simulations conclude that pollution affects the evolutionary traits and evolutionary dynamics. The worsening of the pollution leads to a smaller body size of prey due to natural selection, while the opposite is more likely to generate evolutionary branching.

scholarly journals Behavior and body size modulate the defense of toxin-containing sawfly larvae against ants

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Luc Boevé
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Large Body ◽  
The Body ◽  
Larval Body ◽  
Predator Prey ◽  
Sawfly Larvae ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Toxic Peptides ◽  
Laboratory Bioassays

AbstractThe sawfly larvae of most Argidae and Pergidae (Hymenoptera: Symphyta) species contain toxic peptides, and these along with other traits contribute to their defense. However, the effectiveness of their defense strategy, especially against ants, remains poorly quantified. Here, five Arge species, A. berberidis, A. nigripes, A. ochropus, A. pagana, A. pullata, plus three Pergidae species, Lophyrotoma analis, Lophyrotoma zonalis, Philomastix macleaii, were tested in laboratory bioassays on ant workers mainly of Myrmica rubra. The experiments focused on short-term predator–prey interactions, sawfly survival rate after long-term interactions, and feeding deterrence of the sawfly hemolymph. The larvae of Arge species were generally surrounded by few ants, which rarely bit them, whereas larvae of Pergidae, especially P. macleaii, had more ants around with more biting. A detailed behavioral analysis of Arge-ant interactions revealed that larval body size and abdomen raising behavior were two determinants of ant responses. Another determinant may be the emission of a volatile secretion by non-eversible ventro-abdominal glands. The crude hemolymph of all tested species, the five Arge species and L. zonalis, was a strong feeding deterrent and remained active at a ten-fold dilution. Furthermore, the study revealed that the taxon-specific behavior of ants, sting or spray, impacted the survival of A. pagana but not the large body-sized A. pullata. The overall results suggest that the ability of Arge and Pergidae larvae to defend against ants is influenced by the body size and behavior of the larvae, as well as by chemicals.

scholarly journals Macroscale patterns of oceanic zooplankton composition and size structure

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Manoela C. Brandão ◽  
Fabio Benedetti ◽  
Séverine Martini ◽  
Yawouvi Dodji Soviadan ◽  
Jean-Olivier Irisson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
Size Structure ◽  
Fish Larvae ◽  
The Body ◽  
Community Level ◽  
Feeding Strategies ◽  
Size Spectrum ◽  
Zooplankton Abundance

AbstractOcean plankton comprise organisms from viruses to fish larvae that are fundamental to ecosystem functioning and the provision of marine services such as fisheries and CO2 sequestration. The latter services are partly governed by variations in plankton community composition and the expression of traits such as body size at community-level. While community assembly has been thoroughly studied for the smaller end of the plankton size spectrum, the larger end comprises ectotherms that are often studied at the species, or group-level, rather than as communities. The body size of marine ectotherms decreases with temperature, but controls on community-level traits remain elusive, hindering the predictability of marine services provision. Here, we leverage Tara Oceans datasets to determine how zooplankton community composition and size structure varies with latitude, temperature and productivity-related covariates in the global surface ocean. Zooplankton abundance and median size decreased towards warmer and less productive environments, as a result of changes in copepod composition. However, some clades displayed the opposite relationships, which may be ascribed to alternative feeding strategies. Given that climate models predict increasingly warmed and stratified oceans, our findings suggest that zooplankton communities will shift towards smaller organisms which might weaken their contribution to the biological carbon pump.

Size Spectrum Theory

2019 ◽  
pp. 15-37
Author(s):  
Ken H. Andersen
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Power Law ◽  
Clearance Rate ◽  
Size Structure ◽  
Prey Size ◽  
Marine Ecosystem ◽  
Size Spectrum ◽  
Predator Prey ◽  
Predation Mortality ◽  
Size Preference

This chapter follows the size-structure of the entire marine ecosystem. It shows how the Sheldon spectrum emerges from predator–prey interactions and the limitations that physics and physiology place on individual organisms. How predator–prey interactions and physiological limitations scale with body size are the central assumptions in size spectrum theory. To that end, this chapter first defines body size and size spectrum. Next, it shows how central aspects of individual physiology scale with size: metabolism, clearance rate, and prey size preference. On that basis, it is possible to derive a power-law representation of the size spectrum by considering a balance between the needs of an organism (its metabolism) and the encountered prey, which is determined by the spectrum, the clearance rate, and the size preference. Lastly, the chapter uses the solution of the size spectrum to derive the expected size scaling of predation mortality.

Body Size and Feeding Ecology as Alternatives to Taxonomy for the Study of Limnetic Zooplankton Community Structure

1979 ◽  
Vol 36 (11) ◽  
pp. 1354-1363 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Gary Sprules ◽  
L. Blair Holtby
Keyword(s):  
Image Analysis ◽  
Community Structure ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Feeding Ecology ◽  
Zooplankton Community ◽  
The Body ◽  
Size Spectrum ◽  
Zooplankton Community Structure ◽  
Flow Through ◽  
Zooplankton Communities

Three different characterizations of limnetic zooplankton communities from lakes of the Bruce Peninsula, Ontario are compared with respect to their usefulness in limnological studies: a conventional taxonomic one, one based on the body size and feeding ecology of the organisms, and one based on image analysis of the particle size spectrum. In comparison with the taxonomic characterization, the ecological and image analysis characterizations reflect zooplankton community features which are more closely related to the efficiency and nature of energy flow through pelagic ecosystems. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that these features have stronger statistical relations to morphometric and hydrological properties of lakes. The ecological and image analyses are thus not only more useful in studies seeking to make predictions about lake function from lake type but actually require less time, money and expertise in the acquisition of zooplankton data. In comparisons of zooplankton communities from the disparate faunal regions of the Bruce Peninsula, Ontario and southeast Asia, particularly Sri Lanka, more useful functional insights emerge from a body size-feeding ecology characterization than from a taxonomically based one. Key words: community structure, image analysis, Bruce Peninsula, tropical zooplankton, zoogeography, multivariate analysis

scholarly journals Allometric relations and consequences for feeding in small pelagic fish in the Bay of Biscay

2012 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 232-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eneko Bachiller ◽  
Xabier Irigoien
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Prey Size ◽  
Pelagic Fish ◽  
The Body ◽  
Large Prey ◽  
Bay Of Biscay ◽  
Small Pelagic Fish ◽  
Predator Prey ◽  
Allometric Relations ◽  
Gape Size

Abstract Bachiller, E. and Irigoien, X. 2013. Allometric relations and consequences for feeding in small pelagic fish in the Bay of Biscay. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 70:232–243. The body size of fish is an important factor in determining their biology and ecology, as predators eat prey smaller than themselves. Predator mouth size restricts the availability of possible prey. In this paper we provide the allometric relationships of eight common, small pelagic fish species in the Bay of Biscay. In addition, we describe the predator-prey size ratios for different species, and we determine changes in their ratio-based trophic-niche breadth with increasing body size. Results suggest that gape size does not totally determine the predator-prey size ratio distribution, but predators use the entire available prey size range, including the smallest. As they grow they simply incorporate larger prey as their increased gape size permits. Accordingly, a large degree of overlap was found in the diet composition in terms of size and predator-prey ratios, even between fish of different sizes. Of the species studied, only horse mackerels seem to be clearly specialized in relatively large prey.

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