Body size in ecology and paleoecology: Linking pattern and process across spatial, temporal and taxonomic scales

Body size has long been a central area of research in both ecology and paleoecology. With few exceptions however, ecologists have focused on spatial relationships and/or short time spans, and paleoecologists on long time scales. Little cross-linkage has existed between the two disciplines. Additionally, most studies of ecogeographic or evolutionary phenomena are restricted to single taxa. We propose to form a working group consisting of paleoecologists and ecologists, studying organisms as diverse as marine invertebrates, terrestrial woody plants and mammals. Our aim is to synthesize the patterns of body size distribution across local to broad geographic space and from contemporary to ¿deep¿ time, and then to examine the processes that lead to the observed patterns.