Mass and energy budgets of animals: Behavioral and ecological implications

Technical Report · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1993

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6527103· OSTI ID:6527103

Porter, W P

The common goal of these diverse projects is to understand the mechanisms of how animal populations respond to the continual changes in their environment in both time and space. Our models are mechanistic allowing us to explore how a wide array of environmental variables may determine individual performance. Large scale climate change and its effect on animal populations can be seen as quantitative extensions of biological responses to smaller scales of environmental variability. Changes in developmental rates or reproductive levels of individuals, extension or contraction of geographic ranges, and modification of community organization have all been documented in response to previous changes in habitats. We know from our biophysical work that some changes in function are driven by microclimate conditions directly, and some are mediated indirectly through ecological parameters such as the food supply. Our research is guided by a comprehensive conceptual scheme of the interaction of an animal with its environment. The physical and physiological properties of the organism, and the range of available microclimates, set bounds on the performance of organismal function, such as growth, reproduction, storage, and behavior. To leave the most offspring over a lifetime, animals must perform those functions in a way that maximizes the amount of resources devoted to reproduction. Maximizing the total size of the budget and minimizing those budget items not devoted to reproduction are crucial. Animals trade off among expenditures for current and future reproduction. Both water and energy are important, potentially limiting resources. Projects described here include empirical studies and theoretical models.

• Research Organization: Wisconsin Univ., Madison, WI (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: FG02-88ER60633
• OSTI ID: 6527103
• Report Number(s): DOE/ER/60633-8; ON: DE93016205
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540210* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Basic Studies-- (1990-)
550000 -- Biomedical Sciences
Basic Studies
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ANIMALS
BEHAVIOR
CLIMATIC CHANGE
DOCUMENT TYPES
ENERGY BUDGETS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
HABITAT
PROGRESS REPORT
REPTILES
TURTLES
VERTEBRATES
WILD ANIMALS