Abstract
Scaling of metabolic rate with body mass has been a subject of considerable interest for comparative physiologists. Their studies have yielded fundamental insights into physiology, pharmacology, agriculture, fisheries and ecology. The metabolic theory of ecology (MTE), which is an extension of metabolic scaling law (i.e., Kleiber’s law), deserve attention because MTE provides a quantitative framework to better understand how metabolic rate influences the ecology of populations, communities, and ecosystems. This review focuses on the theoretical frameworks and ecological implications of metabolic scaling at individual level, which is root of MTE. We also introduce current issues in the process of scaling-up from individuals to ecosystems, and future advances in metabolic scaling.
