RANGE SIZE BODY-SIZE RELATIONSHIPS - EVIDENCE OF SCALE DEPENDENCE

The interspecific geographic range size-body size relationship for ani mals is widely described simply as a positive interaction. However, ex amples of this relationship have been reported in which geographic ran ge size increases with increasing body size, decreases with increasing body size, or follows no simple pattern. Here we suggest that much of this variation can be explained in terms of the extent of the geograp hic coverage of different studies. In the main, where significant inte ractions are found, 'comprehensive' analyses (performed over areas whi ch embrace a very large proportion of the geographic ranges of the spe cies concerned) report positive range size-body size relationships, wh ilst 'partial' analyses (performed over areas which embrace the entire geographic ranges of none or only a small proportion of the species c oncerned) report positive or negative relationships with about equal f requency. Some of the consequences of this observation are discussed.