Characteristic Sizes of Life in the Oceans, from Bacteria to Whales*.

Andersen, K. H., Berge, T., Goncalves, R. J., Hartvig, M., Heuschele, J., Hylander, S., Jacobsen, N. S., Lindemann, C., Martens, E. A., Neuheimer, A. B., Olsson, K., Palacz, A., Prowe, A.E. Friederike , Sainmont, J., Traving, S. J., Visser, A. W., Wadhwa, N. and Kioerboe, T. (2016) Characteristic Sizes of Life in the Oceans, from Bacteria to Whales*. Annual Review of Marine Science, 8 (1). pp. 217-241. DOI 10.1146/annurev-marine-122414-034144.

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Supplementary data:

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.

Document Type: Article
Additional Information: WOS:000368369200010 ; PubMed ID: 26163011
Keywords: body size; metabolism; allometric scaling; plankton; mixotrophy; fish; whales
Research affiliation: OceanRep > GEOMAR > FB2 Marine Biogeochemistry > FB2-BM Biogeochemical Modeling
Refereed: Yes
Open Access Journal?: No
Publisher: Annual Reviews Inc.
Date Deposited: 21 Jan 2016 11:42
Last Modified: 01 Feb 2019 15:07
URI: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/31080

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