How scaling approaches can reveal fundamental principles in physiology and biomechanics

Journal of Experimental Biology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 226(7)

Published: April 1, 2023

Among terrestrial mammals, the largest, 3 tonne African elephant, is one-million times heavier than smallest, g pygmy shrew. Body mass most obvious and arguably fundamental characteristic of an animal, impacting many important attributes its life history biology. Although evolution may guide animals to different sizes, shapes, energetic profiles or ecological niches, it laws physics that limit biological processes and, in turn, affect how interact with their environment. Consideration scaling helps us understand why elephants are not merely scaled-up shrews, but rather have modified body proportions, posture locomotor style mitigate consequences large size. Scaling offers a quantitative lens into features vary compared predictions based on physical laws. In this Review, we provide introduction historical context, focusing two fields strongly represented experimental biology: physiology biomechanics. We show has been used explore metabolic energy use changes discuss musculoskeletal biomechanical adaptations size, insights mechanical demands animal locomotion. For each field, empirical measurements, theories importance considering phylogenetic relationships when performing analyses. Finally, forward-looking perspectives focused improving our understanding diversity form function relation

Language: Английский

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Metabolism, population growth, and the fast‐slow life history continuum of marine fishes

Fish and Fisheries, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 25(2), P. 349 - 361

Published: Jan. 11, 2024

Abstract The maximum intrinsic rate of population increase ( r max ) represents a population's capacity to replace itself and is central fisheries management conservation. Species with lower typically have slower life histories compared species faster higher . Here, we posit that metabolic related the fast–slow history continuum connection may be stronger for aerobic scope resting rate. Specifically, ask whether variation in or any its component life‐history traits – age‐at‐maturity, age, annual reproductive output explain rates across 84 shark teleost species, while accounting effects measurement temperature, body mass, ecological lifestyle, evolutionary history. Overall, find strong between fast‐slow continuum, such growth (higher generally broader scopes. more important explaining rate, which best explained by age‐at‐maturity (out examined). In conclusion, teleosts sharks share common physiology/life at end end, yet considerable overlap. Our work improves our understanding diversity fish ultimately improve sensitivity overfishing.

Language: Английский

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Strong biomechanical relationships bias the tempo and mode of morphological evolution

eLife, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 7

Published: Aug. 9, 2018

The influence of biomechanics on the tempo and mode morphological evolution is unresolved, yet fundamental to organismal diversification. Across multiple four-bar linkage systems in animals, we discovered that rapid (tempo) associated with mechanical sensitivity (strong correlation between a system's output one or more its components). Mechanical explained by size: smallest link(s) are disproportionately affected length changes most strongly output. Rate evolutionary change greatest links trait shifts across phylogeny (mode) occur exclusively via influential, small links. Our findings illuminate paradigms many-to-one mapping, sensitivity, constraints: dominated strong correlations exemplify even known for exhibiting mapping. Amidst myriad influences, imparts distinct, predictable footprints diversity.

Language: Английский

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Automatic generation of evolutionary hypotheses using mixed Gaussian phylogenetic models

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 116(34), P. 16921 - 16926

Published: Aug. 2, 2019

Phylogenetic comparative methods are widely used to understand and quantify the evolution of phenotypic traits, based on phylogenetic trees trait measurements extant species. Such analyses depend crucially underlying model. Gaussian models like Brownian motion Ornstein–Uhlenbeck processes workhorses modeling continuous-trait evolution. However, these fit poorly big trees, because they neglect heterogeneity evolutionary process in different lineages tree. Previous works have addressed this issue by introducing shifts model occurring at inferred points for computational reasons, all current implementations, “intramodel,” meaning that allow jumps 1 or 2 parameters, keeping other parameters “global” entire There is no biological reason restrict a shift single parameter or, even, type Mixed (MGPMs) incorporate idea jointly inferring types associated with parts Here, we propose an approximate maximum-likelihood method fitting MGPMs data comprising possibly incomplete several traits from extinct phylogenetically linked We applied largest published tree mammal species body- brain-mass measurements, showing strong statistical support MGPM 12 distinct regimes. Based result, state hypothesis brain–body-mass allometry over past 160 million y.

Language: Английский

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No evidence for the ‘rate‐of‐living’ theory across the tetrapod tree of life

Global Ecology and Biogeography, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 29(5), P. 857 - 884

Published: Feb. 14, 2020

Abstract Aim The ‘rate‐of‐living’ theory predicts that life expectancy is a negative function of the rates at which organisms metabolize. According to this theory, factors accelerate metabolic rates, such as high body temperature and active foraging, lead organismic ‘wear‐out’. This process reduces span through an accumulation biochemical errors build‐up toxic by‐products. Although rate‐of‐living keystone underlying our understanding life‐history trade‐offs, its validity has been recently questioned. never tested on global scale in phylogenetic framework, or across both endotherms ectotherms. Here, we test several fundamental predictions tetrapod tree life. Location Global. Time period Present. Major taxa studied Land vertebrates. Methods Using dataset spanning data 4,100 land vertebrate species (2,214 endotherms, 1,886 ectotherms), performed most comprehensive date theory. We investigated how range generally perceived be strongly associated with them, relate longevity. Results Our findings did not support Basal field seasonality, activity times, well reptile temperatures foraging ecology, were found unrelated In contrast, lower longevity ectotherm was environmental temperatures. Main conclusions conclude does hold true for terrestrial vertebrates, suggest driven by selection arising from extrinsic mortality factors. A simple link between oxidative damage supported. Importantly, highlight potential rapid warming, resulting current increase temperatures, drive accelerated senescence

Language: Английский

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