Smaller predator-prey body size ratios in longer food chains.
Maximum food-chain length has been correlated with resource availability, ecosystem size, environmental stability and colonization history. Some of these correlations may result from environmental effects on predator-prey body size ratios. We investigate relationships between maximum food-chain length, predator-prey mass ratios, primary production and environmental stability in marine food webs with a natural history of community assembly. Our analyses provide empirical evidence that smaller mean predator-prey body size ratios are characteristic of more stable environments and that food chains are longer when mean predator-prey body size ratios are small. We conclude that environmental effects on predator-prey body size ratios contribute to observed differences in maximum food-chain length.
Jennings
Simon
S
Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft Laboratory, Lowestoft NR33 0HT, UK. S.Jennings@cefas.co.uk
Warr
Karema J
KJ
D000818:Animals; D001824:Body Constitution; D004777:Environment; D005399:Fishes / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D020387:Food Chain; D009659:North Sea; D011235:Predatory Behavior