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A unified theory for the energy cost of legged locomotion.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Pontzer, H
Published in: Biology letters
February 2016

Small animals are remarkably efficient climbers but comparatively poor runners, a well-established phenomenon in locomotor energetics that drives size-related differences in locomotor ecology yet remains poorly understood. Here, I derive the energy cost of legged locomotion from two complementary components of muscle metabolism, Activation-Relaxation and Cross-bridge cycling. A mathematical model incorporating these costs explains observed patterns of locomotor cost both within and between species, across a broad range of animals (insects to ungulates), for a wide range of substrate slopes including level running and vertical climbing. This ARC model unifies work- and force-based models for locomotor cost and integrates whole-organism locomotor cost with cellular muscle physiology, creating a predictive framework for investigating evolutionary and ecological pressures shaping limb design and ranging behaviour.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Biology letters

DOI

EISSN

1744-957X

ISSN

1744-9561

Publication Date

February 2016

Volume

12

Issue

2

Start / End Page

20150935

Related Subject Headings

  • Vertebrates
  • Models, Biological
  • Locomotion
  • Invertebrates
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Energy Metabolism
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Biological Evolution
  • Animals
  • 31 Biological sciences
 

Citation

APA
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ICMJE
MLA
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Pontzer, H. (2016). A unified theory for the energy cost of legged locomotion. Biology Letters, 12(2), 20150935. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2015.0935
Journal cover image

Published In

Biology letters

DOI

EISSN

1744-957X

ISSN

1744-9561

Publication Date

February 2016

Volume

12

Issue

2

Start / End Page

20150935

Related Subject Headings

  • Vertebrates
  • Models, Biological
  • Locomotion
  • Invertebrates
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Energy Metabolism
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Biological Evolution
  • Animals
  • 31 Biological sciences