Scaling the Ecological Cost of Transport to Body Mass in Terrestrial Mammals

摘要: The Ecological Cost of Transport (ECT) is defined as the percentage a free-living animal's Daily Energy Expenditure (DEE) that attributable to transport costs. It concluded ECT must be an increasing function body mass, with result some small mammals may have very low (<1% DEE) whereas large 5%-15% or more. For mammals, those move little, daily costs would seem little energetic significance. Movement Distance (DMD) scales approximately M0.25, in contrast home range area, which M1.0. This discrepancy scaling exponents partially explained by model relates size, stomach capacity, and food consumption yield estimate Foraging Distance, latter being quite similar empirically derived equation for DMD. Members order Carnivora average 4.4 times far other on basis; therefore, shoul...