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Updated: Jan 2, 2026

Modeling the Size Spectrum for Macroinvertebrates and Fishes in Stream Ecosystems
Published on: July 30, 2019
An oversimplification of physiological principles leads to flawed macroecological analyses
Justin G Boyles1, Danielle L Levesque2, Julia Nowack3
1Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory Center for Ecology School of Biological Sciences Southern Illinois University Carbondale IL USA.
Abstract:
Macrophysiological analyses are useful to predict current and future range limits and improve our understanding of endotherm macroecology, but such analyses too often rely on oversimplifications of endothermic thermoregulatory and energetic physiology, which lessens their applicability. We detail some of the major issues with macrophysiological analyses based on the classic Scholander-Irving model of endotherm energetics in the hope that it will encourage other research teams to more appropriately integrate physiology into macroecological analyses.
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