ANTA01H3 Lecture 4: Lec 4 notes
Document Summary
Allometric relationship proportional changes in one trait in relation to another. Larger bodied primates need to eat more than smaller ones because their overall energy requirements are greater. Due to lower bmrs larger primates need less energy per unit body weight. Allows larger primates to consume greater quantities of lower quality foods. Insectivores smaller then frugivores which are smaller than folivores. Smaller animals have higher energy requirements per unit body weight than larger animals. But they have lower overall metabolic needs than larger animals. Larger animals have higher overall metabolic needs than smaller animals. Can subsist on abundant, low-quality foods because they have lower energy requirements per unit body weight. Approximate body weight threshold that separates entirely insectivorous primates from those that cannot maintain a totally insectivorous diet = 500 g. Catching insects takes a lot of energy. Only worth it for that small, nutritious reward if you are small.
