From Bacteria to Whales: Using Functional Size Spectra to Model Marine Ecosystems

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Ecosystem Modeling
• Marine Biology

Background:

• Size-based ecosystem modeling provides mechanistic insights into ecosystem-level changes.
• These models explain abundance patterns across the marine size spectrum, from bacteria to whales.
• Fifty years of research have advanced these models, yet coverage remains incomplete.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the progress of size-based ecosystem modeling.
• To identify limitations in current ecosystem coverage.
• To propose a path towards more comprehensive ecosystem modeling.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent size-based ecosystem modeling studies.
• Analysis of model complexity, size range, and applications.
• Conceptual development of functional size spectra.

Main Results:

• Current models cover a wide range of sizes and complexities.
• Ecosystem coverage in modeling is still partial.
• Functional size spectra offer a way to unify traits and size.

Conclusions:

• Unifying functional traits with size spectra is key to advancing ecosystem modeling.
• Addressing knowledge gaps is crucial for modeling ecosystems from bacteria to whales.
• Further development is needed for comprehensive, bacteria-to-whale ecosystem models.