ALLOMETRY IN NORMAL AND REGENERATING ANTENNAL SEGMENTS IN DAPHNIA

Abstract

The law of allometry [See equation in the PDF file] was found to be applicable to both normal and regenerating antennal segments in Daphnia magna. The growth rate of the regenerating segments increases as the level of injury approaches the proximal end of the segment until a critical point is reached, after which the rate decreases. As long as the level of injury is distal to the critical level, the growth rate is such that the regenerating segments tend to approach the length of the normal segment simultaneously as full growth of the animals is attained. The significance of the constant b in the law of allometry is discussed.