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Density—body size allometry does not exist in a chironomid community on Myriophyllum
Author(s) -
TOKESHI MUTSUNORI
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
freshwater biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.297
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2427
pISSN - 0046-5070
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2427.1990.tb00736.x
Subject(s) - allometry , biology , trophic level , biomass (ecology) , guild , population density , ecology , population , community structure , range (aeronautics) , habitat , demography , materials science , sociology , composite material
SUMMARY.1 It has been proposed that population density is allometrically related to body size for a wide range of animal species. An interesting question is whether this applies to species within a specific community or trophic guild, thus constituting a ‘pattern’ of community structure. 2 Density‐body size allometry can be translated into the relationship between population biomass ( B ) and population density ( N ). If the regression coefficient b in log B = a + b log N approximates 1, there is no allometric relation between density and body size. 3 Data from an epiphytic chironomid community show b∼1, thus indicating that no density‐body size allometry exists in this community. 4 Biomass is less equitably distributed than numbers among species in this and many other communities. 5 There is some difficulty in extending the logic of the density‐body size allometry to many invertebrate communities, where body size is a strongly time‐dependent, variable trait.