Why are metabolic scaling exponents so controversial? Quantifying variance and testing hypotheses
Isaac, Nick J.B. 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4869-8052; Carbone, Chris.
2010
Why are metabolic scaling exponents so controversial? Quantifying variance and testing hypotheses.
Ecology Letters, 13 (6).
728-735.
10.1111/j.1461-0248.2010.01461.x
Abstract/Summary
The metabolic theory of ecology links physiology with ecology, and successfully predicts many allometric scaling relationships. In recent years, proponents and critics of metabolic theory have debated vigorously about the scaling of metabolic rate. We show that the controversy arose, in part, because researchers examined the mean exponent separately from the variance. We estimate both quantities simultaneously using linear mixed-effects models and data from 1242 animal species. Metabolic rate scaling converges on the predicted value of 3/4 but is highly heterogeneous: 50% of orders lie outside the range 0.68 – 0.82. These findings are robust to several forms of statistical uncertainty. We then test competing hypotheses about the variation. Metabolic theory is currently unable to explain differences in scaling among orders, but the patterns are not consistent with competing explanations either. We conclude that current theories are inadequate to explain the full range of metabolic scaling patterns observed in nature.
| Item Type: | Publication - Article |
|---|---|
| Digital Object Identifier (DOI): | 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2010.01461.x |
| Programmes: | CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Biodiversity > BD Topic 2 - Ecological Processes in the Environment > BD - 2.4 - Estimate the impact of the main drivers and pressures on biodiversity ... |
| UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas: | Pywell |
| ISSN: | 1461-023X |
| NORA Subject Terms: | Zoology Biology and Microbiology Ecology and Environment Data and Information |
| Date made live: | 23 Jun 2010 10:18 +0 (UTC) |
| URI: | https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/8161 |
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