Abstract
It is shown on a theoretical basis that the existence of a "power law" relationship between body mass M and total metabolic heat generation rate Q of the form Q = kMα does not uniquely determine the dependence of metabolic rate on body temperature. However, it is shown that a particular assumption for this temperature dependence, successful in other problems, does predict a "power law" similar to the empirical one. At the same time it also accounts satisfactorily for the linear dependence of metabolic rate on ambient temperature.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 757-767 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Journal of Theoretical Biology |
Volume | 93 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 21 Dec 1981 |