|
|||||
|
|
Taking species abundance distributions beyond individuals |
|
| Authors: | Hé lè ne Morlon ,Ethan P. White,Rampal S. Etienne,Jessica L. Green,Annette Ostling,David Alonso,Brian J. Enquist,Fangliang He,Allen Hurlbert,Anne E. Magurran,Brian A. Maurer,Brian J. McGill,Han Olff,David Storch, Tommaso Zillio |
| Affiliation: | Center for Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA; Department of Biology and the Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA; Community and Conservation Ecology Group, University of Groningen, Haren, Netherlands; The Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, NM; Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA; Center for Applied Biodiversity, Science Conservation International, Arlington, VA; Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada; Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK; Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA; School of Natural Resources, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA; Center for Theoretical Study, Charles University of Academy Sciences of the CR, Praha, Czech Republic; Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Praha, Czech Republic |
| Abstract: | The species abundance distribution (SAD) is one of the few universal patterns in ecology. Research on this fundamental distribution has primarily focused on the study of numerical counts, irrespective of the traits of individuals. Here we show that considering a set of Generalized Species Abundance Distributions (GSADs) encompassing several abundance measures, such as numerical abundance, biomass and resource use, can provide novel insights into the structure of ecological communities and the forces that organize them. We use a taxonomically diverse combination of macroecological data sets to investigate the similarities and differences between GSADs. We then use probability theory to explore, under parsimonious assumptions, theoretical linkages among them. Our study suggests that examining different GSADs simultaneously in natural systems may help with assessing determinants of community structure. Broadening SADs to encompass multiple abundance measures opens novel perspectives in biodiversity research and warrants future empirical and theoretical developments. |
| Keywords: | Species abundance distribution body-size size distribution size–density relationship biomass energy use size–energy relationship resource partitioning macroecology metabolic theory |