We have a limited understanding of the proximate mechanisms that are responsible for the development of variation in animal performance and life‐history strategies. Provided that components of an organism's successful life history – for example, mate competition, gestation, lactation, etc. – are energetically demanding, increased energy production within mitochondria is likely the foundation from which organisms are able to perform these tasks. Mitochondrial behaviour (positioning within the cell and communication between mitochondria) and morphology affect variation in energy production at the molecular, cellular, and organismal levels. Therefore, adaptations in mitochondrial behaviour and morphology that favour efficient energy production likely influence variation in animal performance. Previous work has linked greater proportions of inter‐mitochondrial junctions and density of the inner mitochondrial membrane, among other traits, with increased energetic demand. Future research should focus on how inter‐mitochondrial junctions and morphology of the inner mitochondrial membrane, in particular, influence animal performance in accordance with mitochondrial density, fission, and fusion.

中文翻译：

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线粒体行为、形态和动物表现

我们对导致动物表现和生活史策略变化的直接机制的了解有限。假设生物体成功生活史的组成部分——例如，配偶竞争、妊娠、哺乳等——对能量要求很高，线粒体内增加的能量产生可能是生物体能够执行这些任务的基础。线粒体行为（在细胞内定位和线粒体之间的通讯）和形态会影响分子、细胞和生物体水平上能量产生的变化。因此，有利于高效能量生产的线粒体行为和形态的适应性可能会影响动物性能的变化。先前的工作已将更大比例的线粒体间连接和线粒体内膜的密度等特征与能量需求的增加联系起来。未来的研究应重点关注线粒体间连接和线粒体内膜的形态，特别是如何根据线粒体密度、裂变和融合影响动物的表现。