Electronic Resource
Springer
Bulletin of mathematical biology
45 (1983), S. 287-293
ISSN:
1522-9602
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Mathematics
Notes:
Abstract We postulate that the biomass distribution function for an ecological population may be derived from the condition that the biomas diversity functional is maximal subject to an energetic constraint on the total biomass. This leads to a biomass distribution of the form $$p(m) = \bar m^{ - 1} \exp ( - m/\bar m)$$ , where $$\bar m$$ is the mean biomass per individual. The same condition yields a unique value for the biomass diversity functional. These predictions are tested against fishery data and found to be in good agreement. It is argued that the existence of a unique value for biomass diversity may provide a preliminary theoretical foundation for the observed upper limit to species diversity.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02462362
|
Location |
Call Number |
Expected |
Availability |
