title: Linking secondary structure of individual size distribution with nonlinear size-trophic level relationship in food webs.
abstract: Existing individual size distribution (ISD) theories assume that the trophic level (TL) of an organism varies as a linear function of its log-transformed body size. This assumption predicts a power-law distribution of the ISD, i.e., a linear relationship between size and abundance in log space. However, the secondary structure of ISD (nonlinear dome shape structures deviating from a power-law distribution) is often observed. We propose a model that extends the metabolic theory to link the secondary structure of ISD to the nonlinear size-TL relationship. This model is tested with empirical data collected from a subtropical reservoir. The empirical ISD and size-TL relationships were constructed by FlowCAM imaging analysis and stable isotope analyses, respectively. Our results demonstrate that the secondary structure of ISD can be predicted from the nonlinear function of size-TL relationship and vice versa. Moreover, these secondary structures arise due to (1) zooplankton omnivory and (2) the trophic interactions within microbial food webs.
authors.forename: Chun-Wei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miki
authors.forename: Fuh-Kwo
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Shiah
authors.forename: Shuh-Ji
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.forename: Jiunn-Tzong
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Akash R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Sastri
authors.forename: Chih-Hao
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hsieh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049628:Body Size / Q000502:physiology*; D020387:Food Chain; D008954:Models, Biological; D010933:Plankton / Q000502:physiology*