title: Scaling in biology: the consequences of size.
abstract: A review of major ideas pertaining to the importance of the body size of animals. It discusses the size range of living organisms and the possibilities and constraints that result from the design of animals and the materials used in their supporting structures. The change in size of similarly organized animals is considered in the light of the principles of scaling, with examples chosen both from morphology and physiology. The mechanical consequences of body size in relation to locomotion is also discussed.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001699:Biometry; D001717:Birds / Q000378:metabolism; D001830:Body Surface Area; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005399:Fishes / Q000378:metabolism; D005580:Fossils; D000882:Haplorhini / Q000378:metabolism; D007313:Insecta / Q000502:physiology; D008124:Locomotion; D008322:Mammals / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000166:cytology; D010101:Oxygen Consumption