SPECIES RICHNESS AND POPULATION-DYNAMICS OF ANIMAL ASSEMBLAGES - PATTERNS IN BODY SIZE - ABUNDANCE SPACE

Links between population dynamics, the relative abundance of species and the richness of animal communities are reviewed within the framework of a simple conceptual model, based on body size and abundance. Populations of individual species occupy positions in this body size: abundance space. Problems of relative abundance and absolute species-richness revolve around a number of simple questions, including: what determines the upper and lower bounds (maximum and minimum population densities) of species in the assemblage; what determines the overall density of points (number of species) within these bounds; and how are the vertical and horizontal partitioning rules between species decided? -from Author