Invariant scaling relations across tree-dominated communities

Brian J. Enquist () and Karl J. Niklas
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Brian J. Enquist: University of Arizona
Karl J. Niklas: Cornell University

Nature, 2001, vol. 410, issue 6829, 655-660

Abstract: Abstract Organizing principles are needed to link organismal, community and ecosystem attributes across spatial and temporal scales. Here we extend allometric theory—how attributes of organisms change with variation in their size—and test its predictions against worldwide data sets for forest communities by quantifying the relationships among tree size–frequency distributions, standing biomass, species number and number of individuals per unit area. As predicted, except for the highest latitudes, the number of individuals scales as the -2 power of basal stem diameter or as the -3/4 power of above-ground biomass. Also as predicted, this scaling relationship varies little with species diversity, total standing biomass, latitude and geographic sampling area. A simulation model in which individuals allocate biomass to leaf, stem and reproduction, and compete for space and light obtains features identical to those of a community. In tandem with allometric theory, our results indicate that many macroecological features of communities may emerge from a few allometric principles operating at the level of the individual.

Date: 2001
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DOI: 10.1038/35070500

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