From Bacteria to Whales: Using Functional Size Spectra to Model Marine Ecosystems

Julia L. Blanchard; Ryan F. Heneghan; Jason D. Everett; Rowan Trebilco; Anthony J. Richardson

doi:10.1016/j.tree.2016.12.003

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From Bacteria to Whales: Using Functional Size Spectra to Model Marine Ecosystems

Journal article

Peer reviewed

From Bacteria to Whales: Using Functional Size Spectra to Model Marine Ecosystems

Julia L. Blanchard, Ryan F. Heneghan, Jason D. Everett, Rowan Trebilco and Anthony J. Richardson

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Vol.32(3), pp.174-186

2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2016.12.003

PMID: 28109686

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Abstract

allometry

body size

ecosystem dynamics

ecosystem function

macroecology

size distribution

Size-based ecosystem modeling is emerging as a powerful way to assess ecosystem-level impacts of human- and environment-driven changes from individual-level processes. These models have evolved as mechanistic explanations for observed regular patterns of abundance across the marine size spectrum hypothesized to hold from bacteria to whales. Fifty years since the first size spectrum measurements, we ask how far have we come? Although recent modeling studies capture an impressive range of sizes, complexity, and real-world applications, ecosystem coverage is still only partial. We describe how this can be overcome by unifying functional traits with size spectra (which we call functional size spectra) and highlight the key knowledge gaps that need to be filled to model ecosystems from bacteria to whales.

Details

Title: From Bacteria to Whales: Using Functional Size Spectra to Model Marine Ecosystems
Authors: Julia L. Blanchard (Corresponding Author) - University of Tasmania
Ryan F. Heneghan (Author) - University of Queensland
Jason D. Everett (Author) - Sydney Institute of Marine Science
Rowan Trebilco (Author) - Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre
Anthony J. Richardson (Author) - University of Queensland
Publication details: Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Vol.32(3), pp.174-186
Publisher: Cell Press
Date published: 2017
DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2016.12.003
ISSN: 1872-8383
PMID: 28109686
Grants: Linking phytoplankton to fisheries using zooplankton size spectra, DP150102656, Australian Research Council (Australia, Canberra) - ARC
Grant note: NE/L003279/1 / Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; UK Natural Environment Research Council; UK Research & Innovation (UKRI); Australian Postgraduate Award; Australian Government; RJL Hawke Postdoctoral Fellowship
Organisation Unit: School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99744889502621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Ecology; Evolutionary Biology; Genetics & Heredity

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