Characteristic Sizes of Life in the Oceans, from Bacteria to Whales.
Ann Rev Mar Sci
; 8: 217-41, 2016.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-26163011
ABSTRACT
The size of an individual organism is a key trait to characterize its physiology and feeding ecology. Size-based scaling laws may have a limited size range of validity or undergo a transition from one scaling exponent to another at some characteristic size. We collate and review data on size-based scaling laws for resource acquisition, mobility, sensory range, and progeny size for all pelagic marine life, from bacteria to whales. Further, we review and develop simple theoretical arguments for observed scaling laws and the characteristic sizes of a change or breakdown of power laws. We divide life in the ocean into seven major realms based on trophic strategy, physiology, and life history strategy. Such a categorization represents a move away from a taxonomically oriented description toward a trait-based description of life in the oceans. Finally, we discuss life forms that transgress the simple size-based rules and identify unanswered questions.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Bacteria
/
Whales
/
Marine Biology
Type of study:
Prognostic_studies
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
Ann Rev Mar Sci
Journal subject:
BIOLOGIA
Year:
2016
Document type:
Article