Dynamic Energy and Mass Budgets in Biological Systems

The Dynamic Energy Budget theory unifies the commonalties between organisms, as prescribed by the implications of energetics, and links different levels of biological organisation (cells, organisms and populations). The theory presents simple mechanistic rules that describe the uptake and use of energy and nutrients and the consequences for physiological organization throughout an organism's life cycle. All living organisms are covered in a single quantitative framework, the predictions of which are tested against a variety of experimental results at a range of levels of organisation. The theory explains many general observations, such as the body size scaling relationships of certain physiological traits, and provides a theoretical underpinning to the method of indirect calorimetry. In each case, the theory is developed in elementary mathematical terms, but a more detailed discussion of the methodological aspects of mathematical modelling is also included.

Table of Contents:
Preface; 1. Energetics and models; 2. Basic concepts; 3. Energy acquisition and use; 4. Uptake and use of essential compounds; 5. Multivariate DEB models; 6. Uptake and effects of non-essential compounds; 7. Case studies; 8. Comparison of species; 9. Living together; 10 Evaluation; Bibliography; Glossary; Notation and symbols.

Review :
From the reviews of the first edition: 'The Dynamic Energy Budget approach is refreshing, solidly grounded in biological data, supplemented with dramatic, well motivated theoretical concepts. This book is an excellent scientific product that informs and forces contemplation of issues relating to population and community ecology. The author has made a complex subject coherent.' Thomas G. Hallam, Bulletin of Mathematical Biology 'The Dynamic Energy Budget theory … should be considered by modellers as a very useful and general tool to select more ecologically sound process equations and parameters in ecological models. I can therefore recommend the book as compulsory reading for al ecological modellers.' Sven Erik Jørgensen, Ecological Modelling 'The author has made a significant contribution to the problem of modelling the dynamics of biological populations at the level of the individual by synthesising this very complicated subject into a relatively short list of general assumptions and putting the energetics of sub-models for vital rates on a solid basis.' Jim Cushing, Mathematical Biosciences 'The family of idealised models offered in this book is capable of playing a role analogous to that of Lotka-Volterra models in population dynamics … I am confident that any model(s) capable of occupying this niche will be strongly influenced by the ideas in this book.' Roger Nisbet, Ecology 'Theoretical ecologists and mathematicians with an ecological bent should find much to consider in this book.' Bulletin of the British Ecological Society