The Scaling of Abundance in Consumers and Their Resources: Implications for the Energy Equivalence Rule

摘要: The negative scaling of plant and animal abundance with body mass is one the most fundamental relationships in ecology. However, theoretical approaches to explain this phenomenon make unrealistic assumption that species share a homogeneous resource. Here we present simple model linking metabolism density includes effects consumer size on resource characteristics (particle size, density, distribution). We predict patterns consistent energy equivalence rule (EER) under some scenarios. deviations from EER occur as result variation distribution productivity (e.g., due clumping prey or food particle selection). also exponents change dimensionality foraging habitat. Our predictions several inconsistencies observed vertebrate among ecological taxonomic groups provide broad framework for understanding abundance.