ABSTRACT
This chapter evaluates the linkages of bioenergetics, ecology, and social behavior, and probes their allometric basis in body size. It explores allometric scaling of selected traits and attempts to provide a functional interpretation. A persistent theme in evolution has been to increase body size, a tendency which has been accompanied by consistent changes in body shape and adornment with horns, antlers, beards, or manes. Many of the effects of body size appear directly or indirectly related to bioenergetic phenomena. The interrelationship of body size, ecology, behavior, and bioenergetics is complex. Forage distribution has temporal, spatial, and vertical components which are relevant to resource partitioning and adaptive radiation. However, much of the variation can be captured by considering food items to be aligned along the gradient: rare, patchy, and abundant. Energy budgets summarizing relevant transactions are comprised of three basic components: assimilation, expenditure, and retention.
