Metabolic Ecology: A Scaling Approach

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

COMPANION WEBSITE

This book is accompanied by a companion website: www.wiley.com/go/sibly/metabolicecology