Arthropod food webs become increasingly lipid‐limited at higher trophic levels

摘要: Understanding why food chains are relatively short in length has been an area of research and debate for decades. We tested if progressive changes the nutritional content arthropods with trophic position limit availability a key nutrient, lipid, carnivores. Arthropods at higher levels had progressively less lipid more protein their bodies compared lower levels. The nutrients present arthropod were directly related to that predators extracted when feeding on those arthropods. As consequence, nutrient assimilation shifted from lipid-biased protein-biased as ascended herbivores secondary Successive consequences predation may ultimately set upper number communities. Further work is needed examine influence other web traits range ecosystems.