Dynamic Energy Budget theory

S.A.L.M. Kooijman
Dept Theoretical Biology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam 
bas@bio.vu.nl; http://www.bio.vu.nl/thb/

University of Helsinki 2010/03/24


Abstract:

Metabolic organization of individual organisms is basic to life. It
seems to follow simple quantitative rules that can be understood from
basic physical-chemical principles. These rules quantify how
individuals acquire and utilize energy and nutrients, while cycling
through their life stages. Dynamic Energy Budget (DEB) theory
identifies the most basic rules, and links them together in a
consistent framework.

The DEB theory applies to all species of organisms (unicellular
as well as multicellular ones) and links various levels of biological
organization; this multi-level approach is considered to be essential
for the understanding of life processes. Many popular empirical models
turn out to be special cases of the standard DEB model, or very
close numerical approximations. 

The first half of the lecture will discuss the following topics
 - general principles of DEB theory
 - 5 types of homeostasis: strong, weak, structural, acquisition, thermal
 - Synthesising Units (SUs) for the kinetics of metabolic transformations
     the use of SUs to model behaviour
 - surface area - volume relationships: size control
 - biomass: reserve versus structure
 - effects of temperature
 - life history events and the role of maturity
 - standard DEB model: one type of food, reserve, structure for isomorphs
   = allocation: the kappa-rule for allocation to soma

The second half of the lecture will discuss 
 - body size scaling relationships: intensive and design parameters
 - evolutionary aspects
   = steps in the metabolic organisation of prokaryotes 
   = subsequent steps of eukaryotes: the animal and plant lines of evolution
 - syntrophy shapes evolution
 - population aspects: effects of "nutritional details" on assymptotic behaviour
      stochastic population dynamics
 - ecosystem aspects: canonical communities

More information about research on DEB theory can be found at
  http://www.bio.vu.nl/thb/deb/

A general introductory paper to the DEB theory can be found at
  http://www.bio.vu.nl/thb/research/bib/SousDomi2008.html

The DEB-concepts are presented in
  http://www.bio.vu.nl/thb/research/bib/Kooy2011a.pdf