Publication Abstract

Predicting abundance-body mass relationships in benthic infaunal communities

T. A. Dinmore and S. Jennings

We test whether the slopes of abundance-body mass relationships (size spectra) in benthic communities can be predicted from measurements of trophic structure. Observed slopes of abundance-body mass relationships in a central North Sea infaunal community were consistent with predictions of slope based on available energy at mass, where available energy was determined from empirical measurements of trophic level (using nitrogen stable isotope analysis) and estimated trophic transfer efficiency. If our preliminary findings prove to apply more widely, then our approach may be refined to validate size-based models of community structure, to explain regional differences in size structure and to underpin the development of new disturbance indicators.

Reference:

T. A. Dinmore and S. Jennings (2004) Predicting body size distributions in benthic infaunal communities. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 276: 289-292