A MODEL FOR PREDICTING VENTILATION RATES IN MAMMALS

The relationship between ventilation rate (1/min) and body weight (kg) in mammals was examined using regression techniques. The initial hypo thesis of a single power function relationship was rejected. An additi onal model of the log-log relationship was developed which is piece-wi se linear. Results showed the piece-wise linear model gave a better ov erall fit to the data suggesting a complex relationship with body weig ht. The breakpoint in the function occurred at approximately 5 kg. Non linear regression of untransformed data gave a better fit than linear regression of the log-transformed data. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.