Rapid Anthropocene realignment of allometric scaling rules

Abstract

AbstractThe negative relationship between body size and population density (SDR) in mammals is often interpreted as resulting from energetic constraints. In a global change scenario, however, this relationship might be expected to change, given the size-dependent nature of anthropogenic pressures and vulnerability to extinction. Here we test whether the SDR in mammals has changed over the last 50 years. We show that the relationship has shifted down and became shallower, corresponding to a decline in population density of 32-72%, for the largest and smallest mammals, respectively. However, the SDRs become steeper in some groups (e.g. carnivores) and shallower in others (e.g. herbivores). The Anthropocene reorganization of biotic systems is apparent in macroecological relationships that were previously believed to be immutable, reinforcing the notion that biodiversity pattens are contingent upon conditions at the time of investigation. We call for an increased attention on the role of global change on macroecological inferences.