TY - JOUR
T1 - Mammalian aging, metabolism, and ecology
T2 - Evidence from the bats and marsupials
AU - Austad, S. N.
AU - Fischer, K. E.
PY - 1991/1/1
Y1 - 1991/1/1
N2 - This study compared trends in body size, life span, metabolic rate, and ecology of bats and marsupials with those from mammals generally, using a 580 species data base. The linear logarithmic relationship between mammalian body mass and maximum longevity, deleting bats and marsupials, is used as a standard against which to measure life spans of particular mammal groups. Bats have maximum life spans a minimum of 3 times those of nonflying eutherians - a trend resulting from neither low basal metabolic rate, the ability to enter torpor, nor large relative brain size. Marsupials live about 80% as long as nonflying eutherians despite averaging lower basal metabolic rates; similarly, there is no effect of heterothermy or relative brain size. These results directly conflict with predictions of both 'rate of living' and brain-size mediated theories of aging. However, they are consistent with an evolutionary theory that posits exceptionally long life spans among mammals with reduced environmental vulnerability.
AB - This study compared trends in body size, life span, metabolic rate, and ecology of bats and marsupials with those from mammals generally, using a 580 species data base. The linear logarithmic relationship between mammalian body mass and maximum longevity, deleting bats and marsupials, is used as a standard against which to measure life spans of particular mammal groups. Bats have maximum life spans a minimum of 3 times those of nonflying eutherians - a trend resulting from neither low basal metabolic rate, the ability to enter torpor, nor large relative brain size. Marsupials live about 80% as long as nonflying eutherians despite averaging lower basal metabolic rates; similarly, there is no effect of heterothermy or relative brain size. These results directly conflict with predictions of both 'rate of living' and brain-size mediated theories of aging. However, they are consistent with an evolutionary theory that posits exceptionally long life spans among mammals with reduced environmental vulnerability.
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U2 - 10.1093/geronj/46.2.B47
DO - 10.1093/geronj/46.2.B47
M3 - Article
C2 - 1997563
AN - SCOPUS:0026012740
VL - 46
SP - B47-B53
JO - Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences
JF - Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences
SN - 0022-1422
IS - 2
ER -