The innovations by Dynamic Energy Budget theory
to understand metabolic organisation

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

Ifremer Nantes 2005/04/22/09:30-10:15

Metabolic organization of individual organisms 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; many popular empirical models turn out to be special
cases of the standard DEB model, or very close numerical
approximations. The lecture will introduce the theory with a
discussion of some key-issues:
- A comparison of DEB models with Static Energy Budget Models (which are
  basic to the Scope for Growth concept) and with production models.
- The dynamic interactions between surfaces and volumes at the control
  of body size.
- Respiration patterns and product formation.
- Body size scaling relationships with a discussion on "popular"
  explantions for the scaling of metabolic rates.

A general introductory paper to the DEB theory can be found at
  http://www.bio.vu.nl/thb/research/bib/Kooy2001.html