Oxygen Uptake as Related to Body Size in Organisms

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Abstract
Plotting metabolism (O2-uptake) of spp. against their respective body sizes (fresh wt., body N) on double logarithmic paper, a continuous, 3-phase curve is obtained. In the range of unicellular organisms (bacteria, to the large amoeba Pelomyxa) the slope of the curve is 0.7. In the small metazoa (eggs and larvae of marine organisms to organisms containing about 1 mg. N) the curve is 0.95. For poikilothermic animals larger than this and for homothermic animals, the curve is 0.75, but on a higher level for the latter than for the former. Plotting metabolism against body size, and going from egg to adult in different spp., a curve resembling the former is obtained. Thus, increase of metabolism with size is an example of ontogenetic recapitulation of the phylogenetic evolution in organisms. Cessation of growth in several spp. is effected by a period during which there is a very slight increase or even a decrease in over-all basal metabolism, and at the same time a continued growth of the body.[long dash]Alfred Brauer.
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