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Multi-scaling allometry in human development, mammalian morphology, and tree growth
Madhur Mangalam1, Yosuke Isoyama2, Hitomi Ogata3
1Division of Biomechanics and Research Development, Department of Biomechanics, Center for Research in Human Movement Variability, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE, 68182, USA. mmangalam@unomaha.edu.
Scientific Reports
|August 28, 2024
Summary
Allometric relationships between traits vary across different growth percentiles, challenging single power-law models. This study introduces multi-scale allometry, revealing distinct growth strategies in diverse species.
Area of Science:
- Biology
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Allometric relationships describe how traits scale with size in biological systems.
- Conventional models assume a single power-law relationship for trait scaling.
- This assumption may oversimplify complex growth processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To challenge the assumption of a singular power-law model for allometric relationships.
- To introduce and validate the concept of "multi-scale allometry."
- To demonstrate that scaling exponents vary across trait distributions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized quantile regression analysis to examine scaling exponents.
- Reevaluated height-weight data from 7,863,520 Japanese children (ages 5-17).
- Analyzed tree stem-diameter-height and crown-radius-height relationships (498,838 records).
- Investigated brain-size-body-size relationships across 1,552 mammalian species.
Main Results:
- Scaling exponents for allometric relationships are contingent upon trait distribution percentiles.
- Distinct growth strategies are employed by individuals/species at different distribution segments.
- Multi-scale allometric analysis was validated across human, plant, and mammalian datasets.
Conclusions:
- A paradigm shift from uni-scaling to multi-scaling allometric modeling is advocated.
- Multi-scale allometry provides a more nuanced understanding of morphological diversity.
- This approach highlights the importance of considering diverse growth strategies.
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