Effects of Size and Temperature on Metabolic Rate

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2001-09, Vol.293 (5538), p.2248-2251
• Main Authors: Gillooly, James F., Brown, James H., West, Geoffrey B., Savage, Van M., Charnov, Eric L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amphibians - metabolism; Analysis; Animal physiology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animalia; Animals; Basal Metabolism; Biochemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Birds; Body Composition; Body Constitution; Body size; Body Temperature; Body Weight; Brackish; Carbon Dioxide - metabolism; Climate; Fall lines; Fishes - metabolism; Fractals; Freshwater; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects. Techniques; Kinetics; Longevity; Mammals; Mammals - metabolism; Marine; Mathematical models; Mathematics; Metabolic regulation; Metabolism; Methods and techniques (sampling, tagging, trapping, modelling...); Microorganisms; Models, Biological; Oxygen Consumption; Plantae; Plants - metabolism; Protista; Reaction kinetics; Reptiles - metabolism; Species Specificity; Temperature; Temperature dependence; Thermal effects
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.1061967

We derive a general model, based on principles of biochemical kinetics and allometry, that characterizes the effects of temperature and body mass on metabolic rate. The model fits metabolic rates of microbes, ectotherms, endotherms (including those in hibernation), and plants in temperatures ranging from 0° to 40°C. Mass- and temperature-compensated resting metabolic rates of all organisms are similar: The lowest (for unicellular organisms and plants) is separated from the highest (for endothermic vertebrates) by a factor of about 20. Temperature and body size are primary determinants of biological time and ecological roles.