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Dryad

Scaling of biological rates with body size as a backbone in the assembly of metacommunity biodiversity

Cite this dataset

Ortiz, Esteban; Borthagaray, Ana Inés; Ramos-Jiliberto, Rodrigo; Arim, Matías (2023). Scaling of biological rates with body size as a backbone in the assembly of metacommunity biodiversity [Dataset]. Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.rjdfn2zhd

Abstract

The dispersal-body mass association has been highlighted as a main determinant of biodiversity patterns in metacommunities. However, less attention has been devoted to other well recognized determinants of metacommunity diversity: the scaling in density and regional richness with body size. Among active dispersers, the increase in movement with body size may enhance local richness and decrease beta diversity. Nevertheless, the reduction of population size and regional richness with body mass may determine a negative diversity-body size association. Consequently, metacommunity assembly probably emerges from a balance between the effect of these scalings. We formalize this hypothesis relating the exponents of size-scaling rules with simulated trends in alpha, beta, and gamma diversity with body size. Our results highlight that the diversity-body size relationship in metacommunities may be driven by the combined effect of different scaling rules. Given their ubiquity in most terrestrial and aquatic biotas, these scaling rules may represent the basic determinants—backbone—of biodiversity, over which other mechanisms operate determining metacommunity assembly. Further studies are needed, aimed at explaining biodiversity patterns from functional relationships between biological rates and body size, as well as their association with environmental conditions and species interactions.

Methods

Scripts include the lottery-based metacommunity model with which the simulations were performed, and the code lines used to generate all the statistical results and figures.

Usage notes

Scripts are written in R language. R software is required to access the file.

Funding

Comisión Académica de Posgrado (CAP), Award: BDDX_2019_1#49295789

Comisión Académica de Posgrado (CAP), Award: BFPD_2022_1#49295789

CSIC Iniciación, Award: ID 36

ANID/FONDECYT, Award: 1190173

ANID/FONDECYT, Award: 1231321

CSIC groups, Award: ID 657725

CSIC I+D 2020

Fondo Clemente Estable, Award: FCE_1_2021_1_167009