Physical activity in adulthood may depend on exercise conducted while growing, according to a new study led by Penn State researchers. The study, conducted in birds, is the first to demonstrate directly that experiences during development influence how efficiently adults use energy during movement.
Moving efficiently may influence how animals evolve, explained Jonas Rubenson, professor of kinesiology at Penn State. The hypothesis is that animals who use less energy for movement have more energy available for mating, foraging, hunting or other activities needed for survival. In a paper published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, Biological Sciences, Rubenson and his team found that the energy used for movement may be more plastic than previously thought.
