scholarly journals Taxonomic scale dependency of Bergmann's patterns: A cross-scale comparison of hawkmoths and birds along a tropical elevational gradient

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mansi Mungee ◽  
Ramana Athreya ◽  
Rohan Pandit
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Large Data ◽  
Elevational Gradient ◽  
Scale Dependency ◽  
Biological Organization ◽  
Intraspecific Trait Variation ◽  
Relative Contribution ◽  
Single Location ◽  
Species Abundances ◽  
Patterns And Processes

Bergmann's rule predicts a larger body size for endothermic organisms in colder environments. The multiplicity of patterns and processes is expected because body size and temperature are two most fundamental factors on which many physiological, ecological and evolutionary processes depend, affecting all levels of biological organization, from individuals to communities. The confounding results from previous studies may be due to the differences in taxonomic (intraspecific, interspecific and community) and spatial (latitudinal vs elevational) scales. We compared Bergmann's patterns for endotherms (Aves) and ectotherms (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) along a same 2.6 km elevational transect in the eastern Himalayas. Using a large data spanning 3,302 hawkmoths (76 morpho-species) and 15,746 birds (245 species), we compared the patterns at the intraspecific (hawkmoths only), interspecific and community scales. At the interspecific scale, we account for phylogenetic non-independence in body mass by using a heirarchical linear mixed effects model for hawkmoths, and a phylogenetic generalised least squares model for birds. We assess the importance of using abundance-weighted metrics at the community scales, after accounting for spatial auto-correlation in communities. Hawkmoths exhibited positive Bergmann's pattern at the intraspecific and abundance-weighted community scale. Intraspecific variation accounted for a substantial 33% variation at the community level. Contrary to this, birds exhibited a strong converse-Bergmann's pattern at interspecific and community scales, both with- and without-abundance. Overall, all metrics which incorporate local traits and/or species abundances show stronger correlations than when this information is lacking. The multiplicity of patterns at a single location provides the opportunity to disentangle the relative contribution of individual- and species-level processes by integrating data across multiple nested taxonomic scales for the same taxa. We suggest that future studies of Bergmann's patterns should explicitly address taxonomic- and spatial-scale dependency, with species relative abundance and intraspecific trait variation as essential ingredients especially at short elevational scales.

scholarly journals Taxonomic scale dependency of Bergmann’s patterns: a cross-scale comparison of hawkmoths and birds along a tropical elevational gradient

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Mansi Mungee ◽  
Rohan Pandit ◽  
Ramana Athreya
Keyword(s):  
Large Data ◽  
Elevational Gradient ◽  
Scale Dependency ◽  
Trait Variation ◽  
Eastern Himalayas ◽  
Intraspecific Trait Variation ◽  
Relative Contribution ◽  
Single Location ◽  
Strong Converse ◽  
Elevational Transect

Abstract Bergmann’s rule predicts a larger body size for endothermic organisms in colder environments. The contrasting results from previous studies may be due to the differences in taxonomic (intraspecific, interspecific and community) and spatial (latitudinal vs elevational) scales. We compared Bergmann’s patterns for endotherms (Aves) and ectotherms (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) along the same 2.6 km elevational transect in the eastern Himalayas. Using a large data spanning 3,302 hawkmoths (76 morpho-species) and 15,746 birds (245 species), we compared the patterns at the intraspecific (hawkmoths only), interspecific and community scales. Hawkmoths exhibited a positive Bergmann’s pattern at the intraspecific and abundance-weighted community scale. Contrary to this, birds exhibited a strong converse Bergmann’s pattern at interspecific and community scales, both with and without abundance. Overall, our results indicate that incorporation of information on intraspecific variation and/or species relative abundances influences the results to a large extent. The multiplicity of patterns at a single location provides the opportunity to disentangle the relative contribution of individual- and species-level processes by integrating data across multiple nested taxonomic scales for the same taxa. We suggest that future studies of Bergmann’s patterns should explicitly address taxonomic and spatial scale dependency, with species relative abundance and intraspecific trait variation as essential ingredients especially at short elevational scales.

scholarly journals Old and new challenges in using species diversity for assessing biodiversity

2011 ◽  
Vol 366 (1576) ◽  
pp. 2426-2437 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Chiarucci ◽  
Giovanni Bacaro ◽  
Samuel M. Scheiner
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Quantitative Measurement ◽  
Phylogenetic Distance ◽  
Existing Problems ◽  
Species Abundances ◽  
Species Lists ◽  
Assessment And Monitoring ◽  
New Challenges ◽  
Patterns And Processes ◽  
Conservation And Management

Although the maintenance of diversity of living systems is critical for ecosystem functioning, the accelerating pace of global change is threatening its preservation. Standardized methods for biodiversity assessment and monitoring are needed. Species diversity is one of the most widely adopted metrics for assessing patterns and processes of biodiversity, at both ecological and biogeographic scales. However, those perspectives differ because of the types of data that can be feasibly collected, resulting in differences in the questions that can be addressed. Despite a theoretical consensus on diversity metrics, standardized methods for its measurement are lacking, especially at the scales needed to monitor biodiversity for conservation and management purposes. We review the conceptual framework for species diversity, examine common metrics, and explore their use for biodiversity conservation and management. Key differences in diversity measures at ecological and biogeographic scales are the completeness of species lists and the ability to include information on species abundances. We analyse the major pitfalls and problems with quantitative measurement of species diversity, look at the use of weighting measures by phylogenetic distance, discuss potential solutions and propose a research agenda to solve the major existing problems.

scholarly journals Comparative Analysis of the Rattle Calls in Corvus and Nucifraga: The Effect of Body Size, Bill Size, and Phylogeny

The Condor ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 105 (1) ◽  
pp. 139-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paola Laiolo ◽  
Antonio Rolando
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Spectral Properties ◽  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Acoustic Properties ◽  
Frequency Peak ◽  
History Of ◽  
Patterns And Processes ◽  
Bill Length ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Study Species

Abstract We assessed the effect of body size and bill length on the acoustic properties of the rattle calls of 15 corvid species. First, we correlated body traits and the acoustic properties of rattles, regardless of the evolutionary history of the study species. Then we repeated the analysis, taking into account phylogeny and thus excluding its effect on morphological and acoustic characters. When the potential effects of phylogeny were ruled out, the second frequency peak was negatively correlated to body size. The carrying frequency also decreased with decreasing body size, but the relationship was weaker than that resulting from a phylogeny-free analysis. This pattern is consistent with the demonstrated body-size–frequency allometry in the vocalizations of many birds. Bill length also influenced rattle spectral properties. We emphasize that patterns and processes elucidated with comparative studies can be biased if species relatedness is not considered. Análisis Comparativo de las Llamadas de Matraqueo entre Corvus y Nucifraga: Efecto del Tamaño Corporal, Tamaño del Pico y Filogenia Resumen. Evaluamos el efecto del tamaño corporal y la longitud del pico sobre las propiedades acústicas de los llamados de matraqueo de 15 especies de córvidos. Primero, correlacionamos los caracteres corporales con las propiedades acústicas del matraqueo independientemente de la historia evolutiva de las especies estudiadas. Luego, repetimos el análisis tomando en cuenta la filogenia, excluyendo su efecto sobre los caracteres morfológicos y acústicos. Cuando los potenciales efectos filogenéticos fueron removidos, el segundo pico en la frecuencia se correlacionó negativamente con el tamaño corporal. La frecuencia principal también decreció con la disminución del tamaño corporal, pero esta relación fue más débil que la resultante de un análisis sin considerar la filogenia. Este patrón es consistente con la alometría entre el tamaño corporal y la frecuencia de las vocalizaciones de muchas aves. La longitud del pico también influyó sobre las propiedades espectrales del matraqueo. Enfatizamos que los patrones y procesos elucidados a través de estudios comparativos pueden encontrarse sesgados si no se consideran las relaciones entre las especies.

scholarly journals Quantitative aspects of metabolic organization: a discussion of concepts

2001 ◽  
Vol 356 (1407) ◽  
pp. 331-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.A.L.M Kooijman
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Empirical Models ◽  
Ecosystem Dynamics ◽  
Biological Organization ◽  
Dynamic Energy Budget ◽  
Scaling Relationships ◽  
Physical Chemical ◽  
Special Cases ◽  
Subcellular Processes ◽  
Metabolic Organization

Metabolic organization of individual organisms follows simple quantitative rules that can be understood from basic physical chemical principles. Dynamic energy budget (DEB) theory identifies these rules, which quantify how individuals acquire and use energy and nutrients. The theory provides constraints on the metabolic organization of subcellular processes. Together with rules for interaction between individuals, it also provides a basis to understand population and ecosystem dynamics. The theory, therefore, links various levels of biological organization. It applies to all species of organisms and offers explanations for body–size scaling relationships of natural history parameters that are otherwise difficult to understand. A considerable number of popular empirical models turn out to be special cases of the DEB model, or very close numerical approximations. Strong and weak homeostasis and the partitionability of reserve kinetics are cornerstones of the theory and essential for understanding the evolution of metabolic organization.

Monogamy in the European Starling

Behaviour ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 120 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 262-285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Innes Cuthill ◽  
Jonathan Wright
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Nest Defence ◽  
Female Size ◽  
European Starlings ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Female Body Size ◽  
Relative Contribution ◽  
Provisioning Rate ◽  
Male Display

AbstractRecent theoretical and experimental studies appear to provide a comprehensive explanation for the evolutionary, and short-term, stability of biparental care in birds. However, much of the intraspecific variation in the absolute and relative contribution by the male and female remains to be explained. Most studies of the natural variation across pairs reveal positive correlations between the level of male and female nest defence or brood provisioning, but some species show negative relations, or between-season variability in the direction of the relationship. This study examines the determinants of male and female provisioning rate in monogamous European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), in terms of the patterns of male display, pairing patterns, laying phenology and clutch attributes. There was assortative pairing by body size and, controlling for female body size, larger males attracted relatively fecund mates. Males that sang relatively more, controlling for these body size effects, were paired with females that laid earlier. Female nest provisioning rates to experimentally standardized broods were positively correlated with female size, but male provisioning rates were unrelated to either song or any other attributes of themselves or their mates.

scholarly journals Coheritability and Coenvironmentability as Concepts for Partitioning the Phenotypic Correlation

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Vasquez-Kool
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Parameter ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Large Data ◽  
Phenotypic Correlation ◽  
Shared Environment ◽  
Parameter Estimates ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Phenotypic Characters ◽  
Relative Contribution

AbstractCentral to the study of joint inheritance of quantitative traits is the determination of the degree of association between two phenotypic characters, and to quantify the relative contribution of shared genetic and environmental components influencing such relationship. One way to approach this problem builds on classical quantitative genetics theory, where the phenotypic correlation between two traits is modelled as the sum of a genetic component called the coheritability (hx,y), which reflects the degree of shared genetics influencing the phenotypic correlation, and an environmental component, namely the coenvironmentability (ex,y) that accounts for all other factors that exert influence on the observed trait-trait association. Here a mathematical and statistical framework is presented on the partition of the phenotypic correlation into these components. I describe visualization tools to analyze and ex,y concurrently, in the form of a three-dimensional (3DHER-plane) and a two-dimensional (2DHER-field) plots. A large data set of genetic parameter estimates (heritabilities, genetic and phenotypic correlations) was compiled from an extensive literature review, from which coheritability and coenvironmentability were derived, with the object to observe patterns of distribution, and tendency. Illustrative examples from a diverse set of published studies show the value of applying this partition to generate hypotheses proposing the differential contribution of shared genetics and shared environment to an observed phenotypic relationship between traits.

scholarly journals Reduced body sizes in climate-impacted Borneo moth assemblages are primarily explained by range shifts

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chung-Huey Wu ◽  
Jeremy D. Holloway ◽  
Jane K. Hill ◽  
Chris D. Thomas ◽  
I-Ching Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Climate Warming ◽  
Species Range ◽  
Range Shifts ◽  
Community Size ◽  
Relative Contribution ◽  
Reduced Body ◽  
Body Sizes ◽  
High Elevations ◽  
Length Reduction

Abstract Both community composition changes due to species redistribution and within-species size shifts may alter body-size structures under climate warming. Here we assess the relative contribution of these processes in community-level body-size changes in tropical moth assemblages that moved uphill during a period of warming. Based on resurvey data for seven assemblages of geometrid moths (>8000 individuals) on Mt. Kinabalu, Borneo, in 1965 and 2007, we show significant wing-length reduction (mean shrinkage of 1.3% per species). Range shifts explain most size restructuring, due to uphill shifts of relatively small species, especially at high elevations. Overall, mean forewing length shrank by ca. 5%, much of which is accounted for by species range boundary shifts (3.9%), followed by within-boundary distribution changes (0.5%), and within-species size shrinkage (0.6%). We conclude that the effects of range shifting predominate, but considering species physiological responses is also important for understanding community size reorganization under climate warming.

scholarly journals Leave‐Out Estimation of Variance Components

Econometrica ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 88 (5) ◽  
pp. 1859-1898 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Kline ◽  
Raffaele Saggio ◽  
Mikkel Sølvsten
Keyword(s):  
Wage Inequality ◽  
Quadratic Forms ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Large Data ◽  
Wage Determination ◽  
Fixed Effects Model ◽  
Relative Contribution ◽  
Estimation Of Variance ◽  
Linear Restrictions

We propose leave‐out estimators of quadratic forms designed for the study of linear models with unrestricted heteroscedasticity. Applications include analysis of variance and tests of linear restrictions in models with many regressors. An approximation algorithm is provided that enables accurate computation of the estimator in very large data sets. We study the large sample properties of our estimator allowing the number of regressors to grow in proportion to the number of observations. Consistency is established in a variety of settings where plug‐in methods and estimators predicated on homoscedasticity exhibit first‐order biases. For quadratic forms of increasing rank, the limiting distribution can be represented by a linear combination of normal and non‐central χ 2 random variables, with normality ensuing under strong identification. Standard error estimators are proposed that enable tests of linear restrictions and the construction of uniformly valid confidence intervals for quadratic forms of interest. We find in Italian social security records that leave‐out estimates of a variance decomposition in a two‐way fixed effects model of wage determination yield substantially different conclusions regarding the relative contribution of workers, firms, and worker‐firm sorting to wage inequality than conventional methods. Monte Carlo exercises corroborate the accuracy of our asymptotic approximations, with clear evidence of non‐normality emerging when worker mobility between blocks of firms is limited.

Relations between body size, abundance and taxonomy of birds wintering in Britain and Ireland

1994 ◽  
Vol 343 (1304) ◽  
pp. 135-144 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Breeding Bird ◽  
Bird Abundance ◽  
Bird Assemblages ◽  
Colonizing Species ◽  
Species Abundances ◽  
Bird Fauna ◽  
Bird Taxonomy ◽  
Taxonomic Isolation

We examine the relation between body size, abundance, and taxonomy in the wintering bird assemblages in Britain and Ireland. The regression slope of abundance on body size across species in both assemblages is not significantly different from that predicted by an ‘energetic equivalence rule’, but the proportion of the variance in abundance explained by body size is very low. Previous work on breeding bird assemblages has found the novel relation that the correlation between size and abundance across species within a tribe is itself positively correlated with the degree of taxonomic isolation of the tribe from other tribes in the bird fauna. We show that the same relation holds within bird tribes in the two wintering assemblages. Furthermore, evidence for this relation is found by using two different measures of bird abundance, despite these two abundance measures showing very different correlations with body size across species. Although these patterns in the data are consistent, some are not formally statistically significant ( p = 0.089 or greater). Excluding coastal, stocked, feral and recently colonizing species increased the significance of time since origin of a tribe on species abundances. We conclude that the relation between size and abundance in bird tribes is somehow related to bird taxonomy. While acknowledging the unlikely nature of such an effect, we tentatively propose hypotheses for two mechanisms that could produce the observed patterns.

Nestling feeding rates and body size of adult House Sparrows

1984 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 381-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Bruce McGillivray
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Feeding Rate ◽  
Passer Domesticus ◽  
The Body ◽  
Feeding Rates ◽  
House Sparrows ◽  
Relative Contribution ◽  
Nestling Feeding ◽  
The Relationship

Much of the variance in feeding rates of nestlings by adult House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) at Calgary, Alberta appears to be due to individual variation in the quality of the parents. Males contribute less to nestling feeding than do males at other localities. The body size and sexual size dimorphism of House Sparrows has been shown to increase with increasing latitude in North America. Hence, sparrows at Calgary are larger than average and there is a suggestion that the relative contribution by the sexes is related to male size and concomitant energetic limitations. The relationship between weight and body size is strong in the fall for both male and female House Sparrows but is poor during the breeding season. Adult females, but not males, increase their nestling feeding rate in inclement weather.

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