Scaling: Why is Animal Size so Important?

by Knut Schmidt-Nielsen

This book is about the importance of animal size. We tend to think of animal function in chemical terms and talk of water, salts, proteins, enzymes, oxygen, energy, and so on. We should not forget, however, that physical laws are equally important, for they determine rates of diffusion and heat transfer, transfer of force and momentum, the strength of structures, the dynamics of locomotion, and other aspects of the functioning of animal bodies. Physical laws provide possibilities and opportunities for an organism, yet they also impose constraints, setting limits to what is physically possible. This book aims to give an understanding of these rules because of their profound implications when we deal with animals of widely different size and scale. The reader will find that the book raises many questions. Remarkable and puzzling information makes it read a little like a detective story, but the last chapter, instead of giving the final solution, neither answers all questions nor provides one great unifying principle.

Genres: Science, Biology

256 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1984

Reviews

[Lynda]

Readable, lively popular science look at the impact of area being a square while volume is a cube function. Spoils the credibility of giant insects from the B-movies of the 60s but worth it.

[Vinícius · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my opinion, this book is simply excellent, incredibly impressive. I would recommend it to people interested in classical physiology and evolution with a touch of biophysics and mathematics. The language is very accessible. However, a certain level of expertise in natural sciences and basic mathematics is necessary.

[Rodolfo · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this brief, but vastly informative book Schmidt-Nielsen lays out several underlying principles which seem to control animal size from the smallest shrugs to the largest whales. The book is extremely entertaining, aside from informative, and has aged well- it is over thirty years old. It barely requires mathematics, and Schmidt-Nielsen ensures that the reader understands what he is getting at, so it is suitable for a wide audience. While pertaining to the five kingdoms of vertebrates and some invertebrates, the book's focus is mainly on mammals, with some information about birds and fish, as reptiles-amphibians and invertebrates are generally much harder to study. Overall a very recommended read.

[Caleb · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first of many books I meant to read completely (or at all) in college. This one had a few too many equations. I must have understood it better back then. Maybe I should've read it with my notes

[Tycoon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Locomotion chapters were great.