A broad-scale comparison of aerobic activity levels in vertebrates: endotherms versus ectotherms.

ABSTRACT: Differences in the limits and range of aerobic activity levels between endotherms and ectotherms remain poorly understood, though such differences help explain basic differences in species' lifestyles (e.g. movement patterns, feeding modes, and interaction rates). We compare the limits and range of aerobic activity in endotherms (birds and mammals) and ectotherms (fishes, reptiles, and amphibians) by evaluating the body mass-dependence of VO2 max, aerobic scope, and heart mass in a phylogenetic context based on a newly constructed vertebrate supertree. Contrary to previous work, results show no significant differences in the body mass scaling of minimum and maximum oxygen consumption rates with body mass within endotherms or ectotherms. For a given body mass, resting rates and maximum rate

SUBMITTER: Gillooly JF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5326522 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature