Self-similar patterns of nature: insect diversity at local to global scales.

ABSTRACT: The insects are probably the most hyperdiverse and economically important metazoans on the planet, but there is no consensus on the best way to model the dimensions of their diversity at multiple spatial scales, and the huge amount of information involved hinders data synthesis and the revelation of 'patterns of nature'. Using a sample of more than 600k insect species in the size range 1-100mm, we analysed insect body sizes and revealed self-similar patterns persisting across spatial scales from several hectares to the World. The same patterns were found in both Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The patterns include: parallel rank-abundance distributions; flatter species-area curves in smaller insects-indicating their wider geographical distribution; the recurrence of the same species-ric

SUBMITTER: Finlay BJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1634770 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature