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Allometric cascade as a unifying principle of body mass effects on metabolism

Author

Listed:
  • Charles-A. Darveau

    (University of British Columbia)

  • Raul K. Suarez

    (University of California)

  • Russel D. Andrews

    (University of British Columbia)

  • Peter W. Hochachka

    (University of British Columbia)

Abstract

The power function of basal metabolic rate scaling is expressed as aMb, where a corresponds to a scaling constant (intercept), M is body mass, and b is the scaling exponent. The 3/4 power law (the best-fit b value for mammals) was developed from Kleiber's original analysis1 and, since then, most workers have searched for a single cause to explain the observed allometry. Here we present a multiple-causes model of allometry, where the exponent b is the sum of the influences of multiple contributors to metabolism and control. The relative strength of each contributor, with its own characteristic exponent value, is determined by the control contribution. To illustrate its use, we apply this model to maximum versus basal metabolic rates to explain the differing scaling behaviour of these two biological states in mammals. The main difference in scaling is that, for the basal metabolic rate, the O2 delivery steps contribute almost nothing to the global b scaling exponent, whereas for the maximum metabolic rate, the O2 delivery steps significantly increase the global b value.

Suggested Citation

  • Charles-A. Darveau & Raul K. Suarez & Russel D. Andrews & Peter W. Hochachka, 2002. "Allometric cascade as a unifying principle of body mass effects on metabolism," Nature, Nature, vol. 417(6885), pages 166-170, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:417:y:2002:i:6885:d:10.1038_417166a
    DOI: 10.1038/417166a
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    Cited by:

    1. Dalgaard, Carl-Johan & Strulik, Holger, 2008. "A Bioeconomic Foundation for the Nutrition-based Efficiency Wage Model," Hannover Economic Papers (HEP) dp-396, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Fakultät.
    2. Carl-Johan Dalgaard & Holger Strulik, 2006. "Subsistence – A Bio-economic Foundation of the Malthusian Equilibrium," Discussion Papers 06-17, University of Copenhagen. Department of Economics.
    3. Carl-Johan Dalgaard & Holger Strulik, 2011. "A physiological foundation for the nutrition-based efficiency wage model," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 63(2), pages 232-253, April.
    4. Dalgaard, Carl-Johan & Strulik, Holger, 2007. "A Bioeconomic Foundation of the Malthusian Equilibrium: Body Size and Population Size in the Long-Run," Hannover Economic Papers (HEP) dp-373, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Fakultät.
    5. Carl-Johan Dalgaard & Holger Strulik, 2015. "The physiological foundations of the wealth of nations," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 20(1), pages 37-73, March.
    6. Karl J Kaiyala, 2014. "Mathematical Model for the Contribution of Individual Organs to Non-Zero Y-Intercepts in Single and Multi-Compartment Linear Models of Whole-Body Energy Expenditure," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(7), pages 1-10, July.
    7. He, Ji-Huan, 2006. "Application of E-infinity theory to biology," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 28(2), pages 285-289.

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