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CONSUMER–RESOURCE BODY‐SIZE RELATIONSHIPS IN NATURAL FOOD WEBS
Author(s) -
Brose Ulrich,
Jonsson Tomas,
Berlow Eric L.,
Warren Philip,
Banasek-Richter Carolin,
Bersier Louis-Félix,
Blanchard Julia L.,
Brey Thomas,
Carpenter Stephen R.,
Blandenier Marie-France Cattin,
Cushing Lara,
Dawah Hassan Ali,
Dell Tony,
Edwards Francois,
Harper-Smith Sarah,
Jacob Ute,
Ledger Mark E.,
Martinez Neo D.,
Memmott Jane,
Mintenbeck Katja,
Pinnegar John K.,
Rall Björn C.,
Rayner Thomas S.,
Reuman Daniel C.,
Ruess Liliane,
Ulrich Werner,
Williams Richard J.,
Woodward Guy,
Cohen Joel E.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.1890/0012-9658(2006)87[2411:cbrinf]2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - ectotherm , predation , ecology , habitat , biology , predator , invertebrate , vertebrate , food web , apex predator , ecosystem , population , herbivore , biochemistry , demography , sociology , gene
It has been suggested that differences in body size between consumer and resource species may have important implications for interaction strengths, population dynamics, and eventually food web structure, function, and evolution. Still, the general distribution of consumer–resource body‐size ratios in real ecosystems, and whether they vary systematically among habitats or broad taxonomic groups, is poorly understood. Using a unique global database on consumer and resource body sizes, we show that the mean body‐size ratios of aquatic herbivorous and detritivorous consumers are several orders of magnitude larger than those of carnivorous predators. Carnivorous predator–prey body‐size ratios vary across different habitats and predator and prey types (invertebrates, ectotherm, and endotherm vertebrates). Predator–prey body‐size ratios are on average significantly higher (1) in freshwater habitats than in marine or terrestrial habitats, (2) for vertebrate than for invertebrate predators, and (3) for invertebrate than for ectotherm vertebrate prey. If recent studies that relate body‐size ratios to interaction strengths are general, our results suggest that mean consumer–resource interaction strengths may vary systematically across different habitat categories and consumer types.