Theoretical approach to community structure: body size, density and energy

Abstract

Given the complexity of integrating and forecasting the interconnected effects of body size, population dynamics, and energy availability, theoretical approaches that link ecological and computational knowledge are required. Individual attributes, such as body size, exert influence and are, in turn, influenced by community structure. Distinguishing between the processes that generate population patterns and making predictions poses a challenge in theoretical ecology, drawing on concepts ranging from traditional natural philosophy to contemporary physical sciences. To address this challenge, our research proposes a computational model for conducting theoretical-exploratory simulations of a biological community, incorporating body size, density, and population dynamics based on the Metabolic Theory of Ecology principles. This community includes reproductive and non-reproductive individuals transitioning between feeding and reproductive areas. Accounting for seasonal limits and finite energy, we delineate the dynamic relationship between body size and population abundance. Additionally, we present a temporal simulation of allometric exponents describing the density pattern. The findings highlight the importance of considering energetic limitations to maintain the relationship between body size and population density and present the possibility of temporally modeling the allometric exponent of this demographic pattern.

Keywords

• Body size
• allometric relationships
• density
• energy
• modeling