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Rethinking allometry

Richard J. Smith - No affiliation found

1980/11/07 Full-length article DOI: 10.1016/0022-5193(80)90222-2 Journal: Journal of Theoretical Biology

Abstract:

AbstractAllometric scaling, a widely used approach for studying the relationship between size, shape, and function in organisms, is examined in both concept and application. Several methodological conventions are unnecessary or misleading, and a number of theoretical assumptions are unjustified. Some alternatives are suggested. Dependence on a power function as the method for evaluating the biological consequences of size has masked the complexity of the problem.