Field Metabolic Rates, Water Fluxes, and Feeding Rates of Quokkas, Setonix-Brachyurus, and Tammars, Macropus-Eugenii, in Western-Australia

Field metabolic rates (FMRS) and water influx rates were measured by means of doubly labelled water in free-ranging quokkas living on Rottnest I, and free-ranging tammar wallabies living on Garden I. Feeding rates were estimated from energy requirements. Quokkas ranging in body mass from 1.44 to 2.83 kg (mean 1.90 kg) had FMRS averaging 0.574 mL C02 (g.h)-', which is equivalent to 548 kJ d-'. Their rates of total water intake averaged 47.3 mL (kg.d)-', or 90.5 mL d-'. Estimated feeding rate was 54.8 g (dry matter) per day, and water ingested as part of the food (preformed and metabolically produced) can completely account for total water intake. We believe that quokkas did not drink water during our field measurements. Tammars ranging in body mass from 3.20 to 6.35 kg (mean 4.38 kg) had FMRS averaging 0.518 mL CO2 (g.h)-', which is equivalent to 1150 kJ d-'. Their rates of water influx averaged 57.5 mL (kg.d)-', or 270 mL d-', and their estimated feeding rate was 115 g (dry matter) per day. Tammars also probably did not drink free-standing water during our study. FMRs of quokkas averaged 1 .80 x basal metabolic rate (BMR), and FMRS of tammars averaged 1.87 x BMR; this difference is not significant. We estimate that the 5000 quokkas on Rottnest I. consume at least 100 000 kg of plant matter (dry mass) per year, and the 2173 tammars on Garden I. ingest more than 90 000 kg. Measurements of food availability are needed to permit evaluation of the relationship between food supply and demand for these two populations of macropod marsupials.

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Comparative Field Energetics of Two Macropod Marsupials and a Ruminant.

Wildlife Research ◽

10.1071/wr9900591 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 17 (6) ◽

pp. 591 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

KA Nagy ◽

GD Sanson ◽

NK Jacobsen

Keyword(s):

Feeding Rate ◽

Energy Content ◽

Metabolizable Energy ◽

Ecological Modelling ◽

Feeding Rates ◽

Doubly Labelled Water ◽

Water Influx ◽

Scaling Relationship ◽

Field Metabolic Rates ◽

Free Ranging

Field metabolic rates (FMRs) and water influx rates were measured via the doubly labelled water method in wild Tasmanian pademelons and grey kangaroos living in the Jock Marshall Reserve at Clayton, Victoria, and in wild black-tailed deer free-ranging within a nature reserve at Davis, California. Deer expended more than 3 times more energy per day than similar sized grey kangaroos. Feeding rates required to achieve energy balance were estimated from FMRs along with an estimate of metabolizable energy content of the food. The estimated feeding rates for pademelons and kangaroos were combined with similar values for 5 other species of macropods to calculate an allometric (scaling) relationship for food requirements of macropod marsupials. Feeding rate had the following relationship to body mass: g food (DM) consumed per day = 0.20 g body mass0.79 (r2 = 0.94). The findings reported herein should be useful for predicting the approximate food requirements of free-ranging macropods and deer for purposes of ecological modelling, conservation efforts and management programmes.

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Seasonal-Variation in Water Flux, Field Metabolic-Rate and Food-Consumption of Free-Ranging Koalas (Phascolarctos-Cinereus)

Australian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1071/zo9950059 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 43 (1) ◽

pp. 59 ◽

Cited By ~ 37

Author(s):

WAH Ellis ◽

A Melzer ◽

B Green ◽

K Newgrain ◽

MA Hindell ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Seasonal Changes ◽

Water Flux ◽

Energy Requirements ◽

Metabolic Rates ◽

Feeding Rates ◽

Phascolarctos Cinereus ◽

Water Influx ◽

Eucalyptus Crebra ◽

Field Metabolic Rates ◽

Free Ranging

Mass-corrected field metabolic rates of free-ranging male koalas in central Queensland, Australia, varied between 0.329 MJ kg0.75 day-1 in summer and 0.382 MJ kg0.75 day-1 in winter. Field water influx measured 50.8 mL kg-0.8 day-1 in winter, increasing to 59.9 mL kg0.8 day-1 in summer for the same koalas, and was positively correlated with values for leaf moisture of food. Winter rates of water influx for koalas from Springsure were lower than those recorded for koalas from Victoria for the same period of the year. Mass-corrected feeding rates were lower in summer than winter; wet food intake was significantly lower than reported for similar sized female koalas from Victoria. The preferred browse was Eucalyptus crebra in winter and E. tereticornis in summer. Our study indicates that in central Queensland seasonal changes in diet selection by male koalas reflect increased energy requirements in winter and increased water requirements in summer.

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Statistical research on the fate of water in the adult cow. II. The lactating cow

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s0021859600016920 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 75 (2) ◽

pp. 251-255 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

R. Paquay ◽

R. De Baere ◽

A. Lousse

Keyword(s):

Milk Production ◽

Water Intake ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Matter Content ◽

Dry Matter Intake ◽

Dry Matter Content ◽

Total Water ◽

Water Losses ◽

Daily Milk Production ◽

Total Water Intake

SUMMARYStatistical tests were made on the data obtained from 100 non-pregnant lactating cows, whose milk production ranged from 4 to 22 kg/day. The cows were kept in metabolism stalls and fed 37 different rations.The authors have studied the correlation between total water intake, faecal and urinary water losses, absorbed and available water and the numerous other factors which were analysed in each of the 37 rations.Total water intake is closely related to the dry-matter intake and the dry-matter content of the diet; it is related also to the composition of the ingested dry matter but is unrelated to the daily milk production.Faecal water losses are closely related to the dry-matter intake and the dry-matter content of the diet; increase of pentosans and crude-fibre intake enhances the losses.Urinary water excretion is related to the amount of absorbed water and to the dry-matter content of the diet; a highly significant correlation exists also between urinary water and urinary nitrogen and potassium. Daily milk production and urinary water are negatively correlated.Water secretion in the milk depends on the dry-matter intake and on its composition; but there is no significant correlation between total water intake and milk water.

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Diets and predictions of feeding rate of house mice and Lakeland Downs short-tailed mice inhabiting an arid-zone island in Western Australia

Australian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1071/zo01068 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 50 (3) ◽

pp. 249 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

D. Moro ◽

S. D. Bradshaw

Keyword(s):

Western Australia ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Feeding Rate ◽

Arid Zone ◽

Rodent Species ◽

Dietary Sodium ◽

Feeding Rates ◽

Faecal Pellets ◽

Dietary Requirements ◽

Free Ranging

An analysis of the faecal pellets of two species of arid-zone mouse, the house mouse (Mus domesticus) and Lakeland Downs short-tailed mouse (Leggadina lakedownensis), inhabiting Thevenard Island in Western Australia was conducted to ascertain their dietary requirements, and to use this information to predict their feeding rates in the field. Both species consumed seed, monocotyledon and dicotyledon plant material and invertebrate material, although the relative frequency-of-occurrence of these items varied throughout the year. Invertebrate material formed the highest proportion of dietary intake for both rodent species at all times, suggesting that this dietary strategy is advantageous for rodent species that inhabit environments where plant seeding is seasonal and rainfall dependent. The dry-matter intake (DMI) of free-ranging M.�domesticus and L. lakedownensis was predicted and compared using information from two sources: their isotopic water fluxes and the water content of their diet, and their isotopic sodium fluxes and the sodium content of their diet with and without corrections for non-dietary (exogenous) sources of sodium. The DMI derived from the water turnover was high for both species, suggesting that the mice were drinking and that assumptions inherent in this calculation were violated. Feeding rates were also high if no correction was made for exogenous, non-dietary sodium. When corrections were made, however, M. domesticus was predicted to ingest 4.62 ± 0.20 g dry matter day–1 compared with 3.86 ± 0.23 g dry matter day–1 for L.�lakedownensis. When DMI was scaled on the basis of allometric predictions for desert eutherians, only estimates of DMI for M. domesticus fell outside the predicted 95% confidence intervals. The results presented suggest that M. domesticus were obtaining some sodium from sources additional to their diet. Taken together, this methodology provides a useful application for measuring the feeding rate of free-ranging species given known dietary requirements in the field.

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Field Metabolic-Rate and Food Requirement of a Small Dasyurid Marsupial, Sminthopsis-Crassicaudata

Australian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1071/zo9880293 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 36 (3) ◽

pp. 293 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

KA Nagy ◽

AK Lee ◽

RW Martin ◽

MR Fleming

Keyword(s):

Metabolic Rate ◽

Body Mass ◽

Water Flux ◽

Metabolic Rates ◽

Feeding Rates ◽

Doubly Labelled Water ◽

Sminthopsis Crassicaudata ◽

Food Requirement ◽

Field Metabolic Rates ◽

Free Ranging

Field metabolic rates (FMRs) and rates of water flux in free-ranging fat-tailed dunnarts, Sminthopsis crassicaudata, were measured during spring (late October) using doubly labelled water. Feeding rates were estimated on the basis of water and energy fluxes. FMRs averaged 68.7 kJ d-' in adults (mean body mass= 16.6 g), and were 29.2 kJ d-' in juveniles (6.1 g). These FMRs are 6.6 times basal metabolic rate (BMR), and are much higher than the hypothetical maxima of four to five times BMR. Other dasyurid marsupials also have high FMR/BMR ratios, but so does a small petaurid marsupial. S. crassicaudata consumed 80-90% of its body mass in arthropods each day. The diet of arthropods apparently provided enough water for the animals to maintain water balance without drinking during this study.

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Statistical research on the fate of water in the adult cow. I. Dry cows

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s0021859600017500 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 74 (3) ◽

pp. 423-432 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

R. Paquay ◽

R. De Baere ◽

A. Lousse

Keyword(s):

Moisture Content ◽

Water Intake ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Matter Content ◽

Dry Matter Intake ◽

Dry Matter Content ◽

Total Water ◽

High Moisture Content ◽

High Moisture ◽

Total Water Intake

SUMMARYStatistical analyses were carried out on the data obtained, under strictly controlled conditions in metabolism stalls, from 219 adult non-pregnant dry cows fed on seventyone different rations. The authors have calculated and studied the correlations between total water intake, faecal and urinary water losses, absorbed and available water, and the seventy-five other factors which were analysed in each of the seventy-one rations. Total water intake closely correlated with the dry-matter intake and also with the dry-matter content of the diet; forages with high moisture content enhance the total water intake which is also significantly correlated to the intake of nitrogen, fat and some mineral elements.Total water intake closely correlated with the dry-matter intake and also with the dry-matter content of the diet; forages with high moisture content enhance the total water intake which is also significantly correlated to the intake of nitrogen, fat and some mineral elements.Faecal water losses are strongly correlated with the dry-matter intake and on the faecal dry matter. Moisture content of the diet has no significant effect but increasing pentosans and crude-fibre intake enhance the losses.Urinary water excretion is closely related to the amount of absorbed water and to the dry-matter content of the diet; a highly significant correlation also exists between urinary water and urinary nitrogen and potassium. The amount of water excreted in the urine may affect the utilization of digestible nitrogen and potassium.Available water is increased logarithmically when total water intake rises arithmetically. Feeds with high moisture content thus enhance the amount of available water.

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Field Energetics and Water Balance of Sugar Gliders, Petaurus Breviceps (Marsupialia:Petauridae).

Australian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1071/zo9850683 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 33 (5) ◽

pp. 683 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

KA Nagy ◽

GC Suckling

Keyword(s):

Dry Mass ◽

The Other ◽

Metabolic Rates ◽

Doubly Labelled Water ◽

Water Influx ◽

Acacia Gum ◽

Field Metabolic Rates ◽

Petaurus Breviceps ◽

Free Ranging ◽

Mass Basis

Doubly labelled water measurements in free-ranging sugar gliders (Petaurus breviceps) weighing 121 g indicated that field metabolic rates (FMRS) averaged 62.5 litres CO2/kg daily, equivalent to 169 kJ per animal daily (3.8 times basal metabolic rate). The females, most of which had small pouch young, weighed significantly less than males (112 g compared with 135 g), but mass-specific FMRS did not differ significantly between sexes. Rates of water influx (mass-specific) also did not differ between sexes, and were 208 ml/kg daily. The diet consisted of about two-thirds acacia gum, one-third mixed arthropods and traces of bark (on a dry mass basis). Apparent assimilation of dietary substances was 88% for DM, 89% for energy, 86% for nitrogen and 61% for water. Gliders consumed 11.2 g DM of food daily. The diet contained 44% water (fresh mass basis), and provided about half of the water gliders obtained. The other half presumably was ingested as rainwater. In comparison with the ecologically similar Leadbeater's possums (129 g), sugar gliders had lower metabolic rates while active outside their nests (17.4 compared with 31.4 kJ/h for the possums), primarily because possums spent energy for activity 2.5 times faster than did sugar gliders. This suggests that gliding affords sugar gliders a considerable energetic saving, but portion of time abroad spent foraging and resting, and distribution, abundance and predictability of food resources may also account for this difference.

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Field Metabolic Rate, Water Flux, Food Consumption and Time Budget of Koalas, Phascolarctos Cinereus (Marsupialia: Phascolarctidae) in Victoria.

Australian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1071/zo9850655 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 33 (5) ◽

pp. 655 ◽

Cited By ~ 42

Author(s):

KA Nagy ◽

RW Martin

Keyword(s):

Metabolic Rate ◽

Food Consumption ◽

Time Budget ◽

Metabolic Rates ◽

Feeding Rates ◽

Influx Rate ◽

Phascolarctos Cinereus ◽

Water Influx ◽

Dry Food ◽

Field Metabolic Rates

Doubly labelled water measurements in free-ranging adult koalas (9.2 kg) indicated that field metabolic rates averaged 0.434 ml CO2 g-�h-� (equivalent to 2090 kJ per animal per day, or 2.59 X basal metabolic rate). Females (7.8 kg) had significantly higher mass-specific metabolic rates than males (10.8 kg). Percentage apparent assimilation of dietary substances was 56% for dry matter, 52% for energy, 32% for nitrogen, and 66% for water. Feeding rates were about 222 g dry food per animal per day (equivalent to 510 g fresh food per animal per day) in both sexes. However, males had a higher water influx rate (475 ml per animal per day) than females (358 ml per animal per day), suggesting either that males selected more succulent food than females, or that males drank rainwater but females did not. Koalas consumed about twice as much dietary nitrogen as they required for maintenance. They maintained constant body masses, and (presumably) had balanced energy, water and nitrogen budgets during our 20-day study, while eating Eucalyptus ovata foliage. Koalas spent about 4.7 h eating, 4 min travelling, 4.8 h resting while awake and 14.5 h sleeping in a 24-h period. Their activity periods were not obviously restricted to periods of daylight or darkness, but were scattered through the 24 hours. In comparison with free-living, three-toed sloths Bradypus variegatus (4.08 kg) in central America, koalas had significantly higher mass-corrected field metabolic rates (391 kJ kg-0.75 day-� for koalas v.209 for sloths), water influx rates (69.9 ml kg-0.80 day-� for koalas v. 49.8 for sloths), and feeding rates (42.7 g dry food kg-0.75 day-� for koalas v. 21.2 for sloths). Unlike sloths, koalas did not bask in the morning sunshine, and one telemetered koala had a relatively constant body temperature over 24 h (c. 36�C), compared with daily variations between 30 and 38�C in sloths. Population food consumption (g dry food consumed ha-� day-�) was greater for koalas (681 v. 378 for sloths), and koalas consumed most of the leaf production of their preferred food species, E. ovata, which resulted in extensive defoliation of these trees. Although there is similarity in the ecological roles of koalas and sloths, their physiology and behaviour differ substantially.

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Hydration status, body composition, and anxiety status in aeronautical military personnel from Spain: a cross-sectional study

Military Medical Research ◽

10.1186/s40779-021-00327-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Alejandra Carretero-Krug ◽

Natalia Úbeda ◽

Carlos Velasco ◽

Juan Medina-Font ◽

Trinidad Trujillo Laguna ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Composition ◽

Water Balance ◽

Body Fat ◽

Water Intake ◽

Military Personnel ◽

Hydration Status ◽

Total Water ◽

Percentage Of Body Fat ◽

Urine Color ◽

Total Water Intake

Abstract Background An adequate hydration status is critical to ensure efficiency during mental and physical activities. Our goal was to assess the hydration status of a Spanish group of aeronautical military men and to determine the association of hydration status with body composition and anxiety. Methods A total of 188 men were evaluated through a validated hydration questionnaire, anthropometric and biochemical parameters, and an anxiety questionnaire. Based on these methods, the criteria of hydration were established. Results Of the total sample, 81% met the hydration criteria (urine color = well hydrated, water balance ≥ 0 ml, and total water intake/weight ≥ 35 ml/kg), and 19% did not meet the hydration criteria (urine color = not sufficiently hydrated or dehydrated, water balance < 0 ml, and total water intake/weight < 35 ml/kg). Subjects not meeting the hydration criteria had lower urine pH, negative water balance, and lower water intake. The latter also had higher anxiety status (score = 4 vs. 3, P = 0.026), weight [(84.7 ± 10.5) vs. (80.5 ± 10.2) kg], body mass index [(26.3 ± 3.1) vs. (25.2 ± 2.8)]kg/m2, body fat [(22.3 ± 5.6) vs. (18.3 ± 6.5)] %, urine specific gravity, and urine color. Using a logistic binary regression model, hydration status was related significantly with the percentage of body fat (P = 0.004), but no relation was found with age, comorbidities, or medications. Furthermore, total water intake/weight was positively correlated with percentage of body water (r = 0.357, P = 0.000) and negatively with body fat (kg) (r = − 0.427, P = 0.000), percentage of body fat (r = − 0.405, P = 0.000), and waist/hip ratio (r = − 0.223, P = 0.002). Based on a linear regression model, total water intake/weight was related significantly with percentage of body fat (P = 0.001) and percentage of body water content (P = 0.035). No relation was found, however, with waist/hip ratio, age, comorbidities, or medications. Conclusions These findings all suggest a relationship between hydration status and body composition but also set the bases for future studies that relate hydration status and anxiety status. These results can be used to improve the hydration status and body composition of military personnel.

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