Stoichiometry of endothermy : shifting the quest from nitrogen to carbon

For many animals, notably herbivores, plants are often an inadequate food source given the low content of protein and high content of C-rich material. This conception is mainly based on studies on ectotherms. The validity of this conception for endotherms is unclear given their much higher carbon requirements for maintenance energy metabolism than ectotherms. Applying stoichiometric principles, we hypothesized that endotherms can cope with diets with much higher (metabolizable) carbon to nitrogen ratios than ectotherms. Using empirical data on birds, eutherian mammals, marsupials and reptiles, we compiled and compared measurements and allometric equations for energy metabolism as well as nitrogen requirements. Our analysis supports our hypothesis that plants, and especially their leaves, are generally sufficiently rich in nitrogen to fulfil protein demands in endotherms, at least during maintenance conditions, but less so in ectotherms. This has important implications with respect to community functioning and the evolution of endothermy.

The notion of quest

Book reviews

Normative gender coercion and its subversion: an autoethnography of a quest for recognition

In an attempt to shed light on non-normative gender performance, such as transgender, androgynous, sex-change or transcendent, I look at my own challenges, day-to-day tensions and the delicate balances between social subjugation, social construction and the intense searching for safe non-conformist practice. This chapter uses phenomenonological autoethnography to examine and critique the interplay between the coercive cultural forces that impacted on my life and my gender non-conformity. The commentary and interpretation on my many attempted gender performance schemes, both failed and successful, in delivering personal agency, evidence a path of living a nonconformist life in a gendered world.

The QUEST for Brazilian space research

This paper describes how QUEST 1 (QUaternion ESTimator algorithm) influenced Brazilian space research activities. Indeed, we present a short survey paper on researches in attitude determination and propagation in Brazil arising from the influence of the author of QUEST. We show how Brazilian researchers started implementing QUEST, tasting it, and later deriving other applications based on it. Some Brazilian researchers worked out further investigations through direct interaction with the QUEST author, Dr. Malcolm Shuster, addressing attitude alignment and calibration problems. Further related researches show the influence of Dr. Shuster's work on Brazilian space research.