The resting, specific metabolic rate (rate per unit mass) and rate of oxygen consumption increase with decreasing body mass in mammals (see Schmidt-Nielson, 1984, for a review). Since lung volume is linearly related to body mass (Tenney and Remmers, 1963), the increased demand for oxygen in small mammals is met by an increase in ventilation rate, rather than by an increase in respiratory volume. The study most frequently cited which relates resting ventilation rate to body mass is that of Stahl (1967). In the course of completing an earlier project (Altringham and Young, 1991), we had reason to look at Stahl’s paper in some detail, and identified a number of potential problems, which cast some doubt on the value of the results. Stahl used data from the literature in determining this relationship, and a study of the source material shows that the physiological state of...
Announcing the 2024 JEB Outstanding Paper Prize shortlist and winner
Every year JEB celebrates early-career researchers through the Outstanding Paper Prize. We recognise the shortlisted ECRS that contributed to 11 remarkable studies published in 2024 and congratulate the winner, Elise Laetz, from University of Groningen. See how else JEB supports and promotes ECRs.
Inside the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change with Hans-Otto Pörtner
During the past two decades, Hans-Otto Pörtner has steered climate change policy as a co-Chair of IPCC Working Group II. He tells us about the experience in this Perspective.
Photosynthesis turns symbiotic sea anemone's tentacles toward sun
Snakelocks sea anemones point their tentacles, packed with symbiotic algae, toward the sun so their lodgers can photosynthesize, and now Vengamanaidu Modepalli & colleagues have discovered that photosynthesis by the algae guides their host's tentacles towards the sun.
History of our journals
As our publisher, The Company of Biologists, turns 100 years old, read about JEB’s history and explore the journey of each of our sister journals: Development, Journal of Cell Science, Disease Models & Mechanisms and Biology Open.
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