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Cautionary comments on the measurement of maximum locomotor capabilities
Author(s) -
Losos Jonathan B.,
Creer Douglas A.,
Schulte James A.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of zoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1469-7998
pISSN - 0952-8369
DOI - 10.1017/s0952836902001206
Subject(s) - biology , sprint , adaptation (eye) , ecology , function (biology) , evolutionary biology , computer science , neuroscience , software engineering
In recent years, laboratory measurements of locomotor performance of small organisms have been used increasingly to study questions in behavioural, physiological, and evolutionary ecology. Although a valuable tool that can provide insight into organismal function, behaviour, and adaptation, this approach is potentially limited by the quality of the data collected. Using the study of maximum sprint speed in lizards as an example, common problems in methodology that may confound interpretation of performance studies are discussed.