Metabolic Ecology

Metabolic Ecology Most of ecology is about metabolism, the ways that organisms use energy and materials. The energy requirements of individuals (their metabolic rates) vary predictably with their body size and temperature. Ecological interactions are exchanges of energy and materials between organisms and their environments. Therefore, metabolic rate affects ecological processes at all levels: individuals, populations, communities and ecosystems. Each chapter focuses on a different process, level of organization, or kind of organism. It lays a conceptual foundation and presents empirical examples. Together, the chapters provide an integrated framework that holds the promise for a unified theory of ecology. The book is intended to be accessible to upper-level undergraduates and graduate students, but also of interest to senior scientists. Its easy-to-read chapters and clear illustrations can be used in lecture and seminar courses. This is an authoritative treatment that will inspire future generations to study metabolic ecology.

Notes on contributors vii Preface xiv Introduction: Metabolism as the basis for a theoretical unification of ecology 1 James H. Brown, Richard M. Sibly, and Astrid Kodric-Brown Part I Foundations 7 1 Methodological tools 9 Ethan P. White, Xiao Xiao, Nick J. B. Isaac, and Richard M. Sibly 2 The metabolic theory of ecology and its central equation 21 James H. Brown and Richard M. Sibly 3 Stoichiometry 34 Michael Kaspari 4 Modeling metazoan growth and ontogeny 48 Andrew J. Kerkhoff 5 Life history 57 Richard M. Sibly 6 Behavior 67 April Hayward, James F. Gillooly, and Astrid Kodric-Brown 7 Population and community ecology 77 Nick J.B. Isaac, Chris Carbone, and Brian Mcgill 8 Predator–prey relations and food webs 86 Owen L. Petchey and Jennifer A. Dunne 9 Ecosystems 99 Kristina J. Anderson-Teixeira and Peter M. Vitousek 10 Rates of metabolism and evolution 112 John L. Gittleman and Patrick R. Stephens 11 Biodiversity and its energetic and thermal controls 120 David Storch Part II Selected Organisms and Topics 133 12 Microorganisms 135 Jordan G. Okie 13 Phytoplankton 154 Elena Litchman 14 Land plants: new theoretical directions and empirical prospects 164 Brian J. Enquist and Lisa Patrick Bentley 15 Marine invertebrates 188 Mary I. O’connor and John F. Bruno 16 Insect metabolic rates 198 James S. Waters and Jon F. Harrison 17 Terrestrial vertebrates 212 William Karasov 18 Seabirds and marine mammals 225 Daniel P. Costa and Scott A. Shaffer 19 Parasites 234 Ryan F. Hechinger, Kevin D. Lafferty, and Armand M. Kuris 20 Human ecology 248 Marcus J. Hamilton, Oskar Burger, and Robert S. Walker Part III Practical Applications 259 21 Marine ecology and fisheries 261 Simon Jennings, Ken H. Andersen, and Julia L. Blanchard 22 Conservation biology 271 Alison G. Boyer and Walter Jetz 23 Climate change 280 Kristina J. Anderson-Teixeira, Felisa A. Smith, and S. K. Morgan Ernest 24 Beyond biology 293 Melanie E. Moses and Stephanie Forrest 25 Synthesis and prospect 302 James H. Brown, Richard M. Sibly, and Astrid Kodric-Brown Glossary 306 References 309 Index 361