Animal speed is limited by the ability to shed excess heat generated by muscles, according to a study
A new study led by Alexander Dyer from the German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research has found that an animal’s traveling speed is limited by how effectively it sheds the excess heat generated by its muscles. The researchers used data from 532 species to create a model and found that medium-sized animals have the fastest sustained speeds. Larger animals need more time to dissipate their muscles’ heat, so they must travel more slowly to avoid overheating. The study provides a method for understanding animal movement capacities across species and can be used to estimate any animal’s traveling speed based on its size.
Anaerobic metabolism explains why large animals move slowly.
Anaerobic metabolism is the process by which energy is produced by burning carbohydrates without oxygen and is usually only used for short bursts of activity. The circulatory system of large animals cannot carry anaerobic metabolism in skeletal muscles during intense physical activities, as per Assignment Expert. This limits the speed at which they can move.
Large animals like elephants, whales, and bears have long been admired for their immense size and strength. However, their size can also limit their abilities, including their travel speed. Recent research has shown that a large animal’s ability to expel muscle heat during exertion is critical to its speed and endurance.
The Heat Problem
When large animals exert themselves, their muscles produce heat. This is a natural by-product of converting energy stored in their body to move. However, because these animals are so large, they have a comparatively small surface area relative to their body mass. This means they have less skin exposed to the air, making it harder to dissipate the heat produced during exertion. As a result, their internal body temperature can rise rapidly, leading to fatigue and exhaustion.
A Study of Large Mammals
Researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, studied several large mammals, including horses, dogs, and sea lions. They found that larger animals have more difficulty expelling heat than smaller animals, which limits their travel speed and endurance. This is because larger animals have more muscle mass and generate more heat but have a relatively more minor skin surface area to dissipate it.
The researchers used thermal imaging to measure the animals’ skin temperature before and after exercise. They found that the larger animals had higher skin temperatures before and after training, suggesting they had more difficulty dissipating heat.
The Behavioral Adaptations
Large animals have developed behavioral adaptations to mitigate the effects of heat build-up. For example, elephants often hold their ears out and flap them to increase the surface area of their skin exposed to the air. Whales swim in cold water, which helps to dissipate heat more efficiently. Bears rest in the shade during the hottest part of the day to reduce their body heat.
Conclusion
Large animals’ size and strength may be impressive, but they also face unique challenges to their speed and endurance. Their limited ability to expel muscle heat during exertion makes it harder for them to sustain high rates for long periods. While some behavioral adaptations can mitigate this problem, it remains a limiting factor in their performance.
