Scaling Relations in Experimental Ecology

by Gardner, R. H.

• ISBN13: 9780231114981
• ISBN10: 0231114982
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-08-01
• Publisher: COLUMBIA UNIV PRESS

Summary

This book discusses the impact of recent advances in the theory of "scaling relationships" and identifies critical issues that must be considered if experimental results are used to understand the temporal and spatial scales of actual ecosystems.The complexity of ecosystems complicates experimental design. How, for example, does a scientist draw boundaries when studying species effects and interactions? Once these boundaries are drawn, how does one treat factors external to that study? Will the failure to consider external factors affect one's ability to extrapolate information across temporal and spatial scales? This volume provides a compilation from a broad range of ecologists with extensive experimental research experience that addresses these and other questions of scaling relations.

Table of Contents

Figures	xiii
Tables	xvii
Contributors	xix
Preface	xxiii
PART I BACKGROUND
Scale-Dependence and the Problem of Extrapolation: Implications for Experimental and Natural Coastal Ecosystems	3	(58)
W. Michael Kemp
John E. Petersen
Robert H. Gardner
Experiments and Scale: Key Concepts	8	(4)
Theory of Scaling Relations	12	(7)
Scaling Relations in Natural and Experimental Ecosystems	19	(22)
Scaling Experimental Ecosystems: Approaches and Examples	41	(4)
Comments	45	(1)
Appendix	46	(1)
Acknowledgments	47	(1)
Literature Cited	47	(14)
PART II SCALING THEORY
Understanding the Problem of Scale in Experimental Ecology	61	(28)
John A. Wiens
Experiments in Ecology	62	(2)
Scale in Ecology	64	(6)
Dealing with Scale	70	(6)
Scaling Organism Responses	76	(1)
Comments	77	(3)
Acknowledgments	80	(1)
Literature Cited	80	(9)
The Nature of the Scale Issue in Experimentation	89	(24)
Timothy F. H. Allen
Assumptions and Predictions	91	(1)
Analog and Digital Experimentation	92	(3)
Experiments and Description	95	(2)
Assumptions and What Is Reasonable	97	(3)
Experimentation to Achieve New Levels of Analysis	100	(8)
Comments	108	(2)
Acknowledgments	110	(1)
Literature Cited	110	(3)
Spatial Allometry: Theory and Application to Experimental and Natural Aquatic Ecosystems	113	(44)
David C. Schneider
Scaled Quantities and Scope	119	(6)
Similarity, Scaling Theory, and Scaling Functions	125	(3)
Application: Primary Production in Lakes	128	(4)
Application: Fish Catch from Lakes	132	(3)
Application: Biomass Accumulation in Mesocosms	135	(4)
Application: Primary Production in Mesocosms	139	(1)
Scaling Theory: Spatial Allometry for Antagonistic Rates	140	(1)
Application: Adult-Juvenile Interactions in Benthic Communities	141	(3)
Application to Mesocosm Analysis	144	(1)
Comments	145	(3)
Acknowledgments	148	(1)
Literature Cited	148	(9)
PART III SCALING MESOCOSMS TO NATURE
Getting It Right and Wrong: Extrapolations Across Experimental Scales	157	(22)
Michael L. Pace
Successful Extrapolation: An Example	159	(2)
Comparative Frameworks	161	(1)
Extrapolation and Lake Enclosure Experiments	162	(9)
Scales of Interest, Soft Extrapolation, and Context	171	(1)
Comments	172	(1)
Acknowledgments	173	(1)
Literature Cited	173	(6)
Some Reluctant Ruminations on Scales (and Claws and Teeth) in Marine Mesocosms	179	(12)
Scott Nixon
The 1-10 cm Dilemma	180	(1)
``As Simple as Possible---But No Simpler''	180	(7)
Hierarchy and Scale	187	(1)
Acknowledgments	188	(1)
Literature Cited	188	(3)
Evaluating and Modeling Foraging Performance of Planktivorous and Piscivorous Fish: Effects of Containment and Issues of Scale	191	(32)
Michael R. Heath
Edward D. Houde
Conceptual Model of Scale-Dependent Constraints on Foraging	194	(3)
Modeling Planktivore and Piscivore Behavior	197	(15)
Implications of Containment for Growth Rates of Fish	212	(3)
Comments	215	(4)
Acknowledgments	219	(1)
Literature Cited	219	(4)
Experimental Validity and Ecological Scale as Criteria for Evaluating Research Programs	223	(30)
Shahid Naeem
Scale, Validity, and Ecological Experiments	226	(5)
A Scale-Validity Framework for Experimental Ecology	231	(3)
Biodiversity and Ecosystem-Functioning Experiments as Illustration	234	(7)
Discussion	241	(3)
Acknowledgments	244	(1)
Literature Cited	244	(9)
PART IV SCALE AND EXPERIMENT IN DIFFERENT ECOSYSTEMS
Scaling Issues in Experimental Ecology: Freshwater Ecosystems	253	(28)
Thomas M. Frost
Robert E. Ulanowicz
Steve C. Blumenshine
Timothy F. H. Allen
Frieda Taub
John H. Rodgers Jr.
Scale Considerations When Conducting Freshwater Experiments	256	(5)
Assessing Responses in Freshwater Experiments	261	(5)
Explicit Tests of Scaling Gradients	266	(4)
Lessons to Be Learned from Unrealistic Experiments	270	(2)
Freshwater versus Estuarine Experiments and Ecosystems	272	(2)
Comments	274	(1)
Acknowledgments	275	(1)
Literature Cited	275	(6)
Terrestrial Perspectives on Issues of Scale in Experimental Ecology	281	(18)
Anthony W. King
Robert H. Gardner
Colleen A. Hatfield
Shahid Naeem
John E. Petersen
John A. Wiens
The Experimentalists' View of Scale	283	(2)
Theoretical Perspective of Scaling in Experiments	285	(2)
The Need to Integrate Theory and Design	287	(3)
Challenges for the Future	290	(3)
Acknowledgments	293	(1)
Literature Cited	294	(5)
Issues of Scale in Land-Margin Ecosystems	299	(32)
Walter R. Boynton
James D. Hagy
Denise L. Breitburg
Definitions of Scale, Scaling, and Scale-Dependent Behavior	302	(2)
Characteristics of Land-Margin Ecosystems	304	(4)
Scaled Relationships in Land-Margin Ecosystems and Mesocosms	308	(4)
Issues of Special Concern in Design and Use of Land-Margin Mesocosms	312	(5)
Tools for Analysis of Scale and Extrapolating Among Scales in Land-Margin Systems	317	(5)
Recommendations Concerning Future Work on Scaling of Land-Margin System Properties	322	(2)
Acknowledgments	324	(1)
Literature Cited	324	(7)
Scaling Issues in Marine Experimental Ecosystems: The Role of Patchiness	331	(30)
David L. Scheurer
David C. Schneider
Lawrence P. Sandford
Patchiness in the Pelagic Ocean	334	(4)
Patchiness Issues Associated with Experimental Ecosystems	338	(4)
Linking Experimental Ecosystems to Marine Systems	342	(11)
Comments	353	(2)
Acknowledgments	355	(1)
Literature Cited	355	(6)
Index	361