Landscape allometry and prediction in estuarine ecology: Linking landform scaling to ecological patterns and processes

摘要

Spatial variation in landforms and associated physical processes can often be described by allometric scaling relationships, similar to those describing organismal allometry. Because plant and animal distribution, abundance, and behavior are generally affected, if not sometimes controlled, by the physical environment, landform scaling likely causes parallel scaling of ecological patterns and process across the landscape, i.e., landscape allometry. Organismal allometry has a long history, well-established tradition, and well-developed body of theory. Landscape allometry is a newly emerging conceptual framework that offers explanation for ecological patterns and utility for practical issues such as allowing landscape-scale replication of experimental and control treatments, providing landscape-scale predictions of ecological pattern and process, providing design guidelines for landscape management, and providing diagnostic methods for assessing historical anthropogenic effects to landscapes. Organismal and landscape allometry could be used in complementary fashion, and perhaps ultimately integrated, to form a useful theoretical framework for ecology.