Citation

Beyond the '3/4-power law': Variation in the intra- and interspecific scaling of metabolic rate in animals

Douglas S. Glazier

Biological Reviews (2005)

TL;DR

Metabolic scaling exponents range from 0.65 to 0.85 across groups

Critical review noting variation in metabolic scaling exponents (0.65-0.85) across taxonomic groups, challenging the universality of precise 3/4 scaling. Important for understanding that while scaling patterns exist, precise exponents vary by context - just as organizational scaling varies by industry and structure.

Key Findings from Glazier (2005)

  • Metabolic scaling exponents range from 0.65 to 0.85 across groups
  • Temperature, activity level, and phylogeny cause variation
  • 3/4 may be an average rather than a universal constant

Related Mechanisms for Beyond the '3/4-power law': Variation in the intra- and interspecific scaling of metabolic rate in animals