The Ecological Implications of Body Size

by Robert Henry Peters

Overview

It is generally recognized that larger animals eat more, live longer, have larger offspring, and so on; but it is unusual to see these commonplace observations as a basis for scientific biology. A large number of empirically based relationships describe biological rates as simple functions of body size; and other such relations predict the intrinsic rate of population growth, animal speed, animal density, territory size, prey size, physiology, and morphology. Such equations almost always exist for mammals and birds, often for other vertebrates and invertebrates, sometimes for protozoa, algae, and bacteria, and occasionally even for plants. There are too many organisms to measure all aspects of the biology of every species of population, so scientists must depend on generalizations. Body size relations represent our most extensive and powerful assemblage of generalizations, but they have never been organized for use in ecology. This book represents the largest single compilation of interspecific size relations, and instructs the reader on the use of these relationships; their comparison, combination, and criticism. Both strengths and weaknesses of our current knowledge are discussed in order to indicate the many possible directions for further research. This important volume will therefore provide a point of departure toward a new applied ecology, giving quantitative solutions to real questions. It will interest advanced students of ecology and comparative physiology as well as professional biologists.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521288866
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	03/31/1986
Series:	Cambridge Studies in Ecology , #2
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	344
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x 0.79(d)

Table of Contents

Preface; 1. A philosophical introduction; 2. A mathematical primer: logarithms, power curves, and correlations; 3. Metabolism; 4. Physiological correlates of size; 5. Temperature and metabolic rate; 6. Locomotion; 7. Ingestion; 8. Production: growth and reproduction; 9. Mass flow; 10. Animal abundance; 11. Other allometric relations; 12. Allometric simulation models; 13. Explanations; 14. Prospectus; Appendixes; References; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"This important volume will provide a point of departure toward a new applied ecology, giving quantitative solutions to real questions. It will interest advanced students of ecology and comparative physiology as well as professional biologists." The Book Exchange

From the Publisher