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Limits to maximal performance

J H Jones1, S L Lindstedt

  • 1Department of Physiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis 95616.

Annual Review of Physiology
|January 1, 1993
PubMed
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Body size significantly impacts mammal locomotion. Smaller mammals face higher energetic costs and lower power output, explaining their slower speeds compared to larger mammals, despite differences in aerobic capacity.

Area of Science:

  • Physiology
  • Biomechanics
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • Body size is a critical determinant of maximal locomotor performance in mammals.
  • Relative vs. absolute scales yield different performance comparisons.
  • Energetic cost of locomotion scales with body mass.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how body size influences locomotor performance and energetics in mammals.
  • To explore the allometric relationships governing metabolic power and aerobic capacity.
  • To understand the factors limiting maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) across different mammalian sizes.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of allometric scaling for energetic cost of locomotion (alpha Mb-0.3).
  • Comparison of enzymatic capacities for anaerobic glycolysis (alpha Mb0.15) and specific aerobic capacities (alpha Mb-0.13) relative to body size.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Examination of factors limiting maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), including mitochondrial capacity and oxygen transport systems.

    • Main Results:

    • Energetic cost of locomotion is higher in smaller mammals.
    • Smaller mammals have lower anaerobic glycolysis capacity but higher specific aerobic capacity.
    • Maximal aerobic capacity (VO2max) scales allometrically with body size, with limitations potentially arising from various components of the oxygen transport system.

    Conclusions:

    • The higher energetic cost relative to available power in small mammals contributes to their slower speeds.
    • VO2max limitations can be imposed by mitochondrial capacity or oxygen transport, depending on the species and individual.
    • In highly trained mammals, VO2max may be limited by the coordinated failure of multiple oxygen transport system components.