作者: Craig R McClain , Meghan A Balk , Mark C Benfield , Trevor A Branch , Catherine Chen
DOI: 10.7717/PEERJ.715
关键词: Variation (linguistics) 、 Taxon 、 Cline (biology) 、 Ecology 、 Megafauna 、 Data collection 、 Intraspecific competition 、 Allometry 、 Tree allometry 、 Biology
摘要: What are the greatest sizes that largest marine megafauna obtain? This is a simple question with difficult and complex answer. Many of largest-sized species occur in world’s oceans. For many these, rarity, remoteness, quite simply logistics measuring these giants has made obtaining accurate size measurements difficult. Inaccurate reports maximum run rampant through scientific literature popular media. Moreover, how intraspecific variation body animals relates to sex, population structure, environment, interactions humans remains underappreciated. Here, we review analyze for 25 ocean ranging across animal kingdom. each taxon document known several clades. We also identify individuals species. Where data allows, spatial temporal variation. provide allometric scaling equations between different as resources other researchers. In some cases, lack prevents us from fully examining topics instead specifically highlight deficiencies barriers exist collection. Overall, found considerable variability distributions strongly left- right-skewed. allow estimation total lengths weights more easily obtained measurements. quantify geographic decreases likely attributed humans.