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Scaling migration speed in animals that run, swim and fly
Author(s) -
Hedenström Anders
Publication year - 2003
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/s0952836902003096
Subject(s) - biology , reproduction , allometry , selection (genetic algorithm) , scaling , directional selection , trait , ecology , mathematics , biochemistry , geometry , artificial intelligence , computer science , gene , programming language , genetic variation
Overall migration speed is likely to be a trait under selection pressure in animals migrating annually between habitats for reproduction and survival. A general expression was used for migration speed ( V migr ), accounting for energy accumulation and transport, and derive how V migr scales with body mass for three types of migratory locomotion: running, swimming and flying (powered and soaring flight). Migration speed is predicted to increase with increasing body mass in animals that run (∝ m 1/11 ), swim (∝ m 1/24 ) and fly by soaring (∝ m 0.22 ), whereas in animals migrating by powered flight it decreases (∝ m −1/4 ). How the relative duration of fuel accumulation to that of migratory locomotion scales with body mass is also derived. This proportion should increase in animals that run and fly, but should remain unaffected by body size in swimmers. The suggestion is made that in runners and swimmers, selection for enhanced migration speed could provide an explanation to Cope's rule, i.e. the observation that body size gradually tends to increase over time.