Body Mass Patterns Predict Invasions and Extinctions in Transforming Landscapes

• Published in: Ecosystems (New York) Vol. 2; no. 2; pp. 114 - 121
• Main Authors: Allen, Craig R., Forys, Elizabeth A., Holling, C. S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Springer-Verlag 01.03.1999; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aggregation; Animal communities; Animal physiology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Ecological invasion; Ecosystems; Endangered & extinct species; Endangered species; Extinct species; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Invasive species; Landscape ecology; Landscapes; Nonnative species; Parks, reserves, wildlife conservation. Endangered species: population survey and restocking; Synecology; Terrestrial ecosystems; Transition zone; Florida; United States; North America; America; Aggregation; Invasive species; Endangered species; Animal community; Ecosystem; Body weight; Species extinction; Animal conservation; Anthropogenic factor
• ISSN: 1432-9840; 1435-0629
• DOI: 10.1007/s100219900063

Scale-specific patterns of resource distribution on landscapes entrain attributes of resident animal communities such that species body-mass distributions are organized into distinct aggregations. Species within each aggregation respond to resources over the same range of scale. This discontinuous pattern has predictive power: invasive species and extinct or declining species in landscapes subject to human transformation tend to be located at the edge of body-mass aggregations (P < 0.01), which may be transition zones between distinct ranges of scale. Location at scale breaks affords species great opportunity, but also potential crisis.