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From bacteria to whales: using functional size spectra to model marine ecosystems
Citation
Blanchard, JL and Heneghan, RF and Everett, JD and Trebilco, R and Richardson, AJ, From bacteria to whales: using functional size spectra to model marine ecosystems, Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 32, (3) pp. 174-186. ISSN 0169-5347 (2017) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2017 Elsevier Ltd.
DOI: doi:10.1016/j.tree.2016.12.003
Abstract
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.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | ecosystem modelling, ecological theory, foodwebs, ecosystem function, ecological pyramids |
Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
Research Group: | Ecology |
Research Field: | Community ecology (excl. invasive species ecology) |
Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
Objective Group: | Terrestrial systems and management |
Objective Field: | Assessment and management of terrestrial ecosystems |
UTAS Author: | Blanchard, JL (Professor Julia Blanchard) |
UTAS Author: | Trebilco, R (Dr Rowan Trebilco) |
ID Code: | 113804 |
Year Published: | 2017 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 117 |
Deposited By: | CRC-Antarctic Climate & Ecosystems |
Deposited On: | 2017-01-23 |
Last Modified: | 2018-04-20 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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