Longstanding Theories Challenged – Energy Cost of Animal Reproduction Much Higher Than Previously Thought

A new study reveals that the energy invested in animal reproduction, considering the metabolic load of bearing and caring for offspring, is up to 10 times higher than previously estimated. This challenges existing biological models and theories. Samuel Ginther and colleagues developed a framework to quantify these costs across various animal taxa, showing that indirect costs often overshadow direct ones, especially in mammals and humans.

A study shows that the energy costs of animal reproduction are significantly higher than once thought, mainly due to indirect costs like gestation.

This investment includes direct cost, the energy directly invested in the offspring themselves, and indirect costs, the energy expended to create, carry, and care for offspring before they are born. While the direct costs of reproduction are well understood, the indirect costs – the metabolic load of reproduction – have not been previously quantified.

Despite this incomplete understanding, different biological theories make conflicting assumptions about the metabolic load of reproduction. For example, most models assume that it is relatively small compared to the direct costs, while others do not distinguish between metabolic loads and the total reproductive energy investments. When applied, these various assumptions yield different conclusions about the fundamental drivers of animal life histories.

Reference: “Metabolic loads and the costs of metazoan reproduction” by Samuel C. Ginther, Hayley Cameron, Craig R. White and Dustin J. Marshall, 16 May 2024,SciTechDaily: Home of the best science and technology news since 1998. Keep up with the latest scitech news via email or social media.Webb finds 10 times more supernovae in the early universe than known before.

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