Geometric factors influencing the diet of vertebrate predators in marine and terrestrial environments

Predator–prey relationships are vital to ecosystem function and there is a need for greater predictive understanding of these interactions. We develop a geometric foraging model predicting minimum prey size scaling in marine and terrestrial vertebrate predators taking into account habitat dimensionality and biological traits. Our model predicts positive predator–prey size relationships on land but negative relationships in the sea. To test the model, we compiled data on diets of 794 predators (mammals, snakes, sharks and rays). Consistent with predictions, both terrestrial endotherm and ectotherm predators have significantly positive predator–prey size relationships. Marine predators, however, exhibit greater variation. Some of the largest predators specialise on small invertebrates while others are large vertebrate specialists. Prey–predator mass ratios were generally higher for ectothermic than endothermic predators, although dietary patterns were similar. Model-based simulations of predator–prey relationships were consistent with observed relationships, suggestin

Allometric scaling of production and life-history variation in vascular plants

A prominent feature of comparative life histories is the well documented negative correlation between growth rate and life span. Patterns of resource allocation during growth and reproduction reflect life-history differences between species. This is particularly striking in tropical forests, where tree species can differ greatly in their rates of growth and ages of maturity but still attain similar canopy sizes. Here we provide a theoretical framework for relating life-history variables to rates of production, dM/ dt, where M is above-ground mass and t is time. As metabolic rate limits production as an individual grows, dM=dt ~M3=4. Incorporating interspecific variation in resource allocation to wood density, we derive a universal growth law that quantitatively fits data for a large sample of tropical tree species with diverse life histories. Combined with evolutionary life-history theory, the growth law also predicts several qualitative features of tree demography and reproduction. This framework also provides a general quantitative answer to why relative growth rate (1/M)(dM/df ) decreases with increasing plant size (~M-1/4) and how it varies with differing allocation strategies

Enantioselective Synthesis of the 5–6–7 Carbocyclic Core of the Gagunin Diterpenoids

A catalytic enantioselective double allylic alkylation reaction has been employed in the synthesis of the core of the gagunin diterpenoids. Enantioenriched material was advanced in 11 steps to afford the core of the highly oxygenated target, which includes two all-carbon quaternary stereocenters

Interannual variability of growth and reproduction in Bursera simaruba : the role of allometry and resource variability

Plants are expected to differentially allocate resources to reproduction, growth, and survival in order to maximize overall fitness. Life history theory predicts that the allocation of resources to reproduction should occur at the expense of vegetative growth. Although it is known that both organism size and resource availability can influence life history traits, few studies have addressed how size dependencies of growth and reproduction and variation in resource supply jointly affect the coupling between growth and reproduction. In order to understand the relationship between growth and reproduction in the context of resource variability, we utilize a long-term observational data set consisting of 670 individual trees over a 10-year period within a local population of Bursera simaruba (L.) Sarg. We (1) quantify the functional form and variability in the growth-reproduction relationship at the population and individual-tree level and (2) develop a theoretical framework to understand the allometric dependence of growth and reproduction. Our findings suggest that the differential responses of allometric growth and reproduction to resource availability, both between years and between microsites, underlie the apparent relationship between growth and reproduction. Finally, we offer an alternative approach for quantifying the relationship between growth and reproduction that accounts for variation in allometries

Total Syntheses of Cyanthiwigins B, F, and G

A concise and versatile approach toward the preparation of the cyanthiwigin family of cyathane natural products is described. By leveraging a unique double asymmetric catalytic alkylation procedure it is possible to quickly establish two of the most critical stereocenters of the cyanthiwigin framework with high levels of selectivity and expediency. The synthetic route additionally employs both a tandem ring-closing cross-metathesis reaction, and an aldehyde-olefin radical cyclization process, in order to rapidly arrive at the tricyclic cyathane core of the cyanthiwigin molecules. From this unifying intermediate, the preparations of cyanthiwigins B, F, and G are attained swiftly and without the need for protecting groups

Synthetic efforts toward cyathane diterpenoid natural products

An overview of synthetic efforts toward cyathane diterpenoid natural products from the year 2000 to present is provided. The emphasis of this review is the various ring-constructing and stereoforming strategies employed in these synthetic routes