Vertical distribution of algae in semi-desert soil of Shapotou area,Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region
宏生态学(Macroecology)及其研究

With the advances in biogeography, paleobiology, systematics and the earth sciences, a new branch of ecology, Macroecology, is formed. Macroecology focuses on the study of larger scale spatial and temporal patterns and dynamics of ecological characters of species. It differs from most of other ecological branches in its emphasis on statistical pattern analysis rather than experimental manipulation. Some important concepts such as species\|area curve, taxonomic covariance, and relationship between species and higher taxa are studied in Macroecology. Macroecologists are trying to explore and to explain the patterns of species assemblage in communities, combing Gleasonian individualism with Clementian holism, to explain the relationships between species abundance and spatial patterns with the niche theory and metapopulation theory. The theory of frequency distribution of body size, which is expanded with ecological characters of abundance, bioenergetics, distribution ranges and evolutionary history, is also an important part of Macroecology. Some patterns of species in geographic range were reported in field of Macroecology in recent years.