Selection for maximum speed reveals patterns of posture and energetics across body sizes

We challenged predictive human musculoskeletal simulations, scaled in mass from the size of a mouse (0.1 kg) to the size of an elephant (2000 kg), to move as fast as possible. Our models replicated patterns observed across extant animals including: (i) an intermediate optimal body mass for speed; (ii) a reduction in the cost of transport with increasing size; and (iii) crouched postures at smaller body masses and upright postures at larger body masses. Finally, we used our models to determine the mechanical limitations of speed with size,

我们令预测性人类肌肉骨骼（musculoskeletal）仿真模型按体重进行缩放，覆盖从小鼠（0.1 kg）至大象（2000 kg）的体量区间，使其以最大移动速度运行。本研究的模型复现了现生动物中已观测到的三类典型规律：(i) 存在对应最优移动速度的中间体重；(ii) 运动运输成本随体型增大而降低；(iii) 体重较小的个体采取下蹲姿态，体重较大的个体则采用直立姿态。最后，我们借助该模型探究了速度随体型变化的力学限制。