Water and Energy Balance of Captive and Free-Ranging Spinifexbirds (Eremiornis Carteri) North (Aves:Sylviidae) on Barrow Island, Western Australia

1996 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 107 ◽  
Author(s):  
SJ Ambrose ◽  
SD Bradshaw ◽  
PC Withers ◽  
DP Murphy
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Arid Zone ◽  
Water Flux ◽  
Thermal Conductance ◽  
Standard Metabolic Rate ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Doubly Labelled Water ◽  
Evaporative Water ◽  
Ambient Temperatures ◽  
The Mean

The mean annual rainfall of Barrow Island, located about 90 km north of Onslow off the arid Western Australian coast, is 324 mm, 74% of which falls as cyclonic rain between February and May. Spinifexbirds captured in May 1992 had a mean body mass of 12.3 +/- 0.3 g and a total body water content (TBW) of 774 +/- 1.6%. In December 1992 the mean body mass was significantly lower (11.7 +/- 0.2 g; P < 0.05), despite a TBW of 73.4 +/- 1.0%. Spinifexbirds maintained water balance in both seasons, but water flux rates were significantly higher in May (P = 0.01). Respective influx and efflux rates in May were 0.70 +/- 0.30 and 0.72 +/- 0.03 mL (g day)(-1) compared with 0.60 +/- 0.04 and 0.57 +/- 0.04 mL (g day)(-1) in December. Field metabolic rates (FMRs), measured with doubly-labelled water ((3)HH(18)0), did not differ significantly between the two periods. The mean FMR in May was 6.8 +/- 0.6 mL CO2 (g h)(-1) compared with 7.2 +/- 0.9 mL CO2 (g h)(-1) in December, similar to rates predicted by Nagy and Peterson (1988) for a similar-sized passerine. The thermoneutral zone (TNZ) of spinifexbirds, determined by metabolic laboratory trials in December, extended from 30 to 39 degrees C. The standard metabolic rate (SMR) within the TNZ was 2.9 +/- 0.1 mL O-2 (g h)(-1), which is up to 20% lower than predicted values. Body temperature was maintained at 39.1 degrees C in the TNZ, but birds became hyperthermic at ambient temperatures (T(a)s) higher than 35 degrees C, with body temperatures reaching 44 degrees C. Wet thermal conductance and evaporative water loss increased markedly at T(a)s > 35 degrees C. The data suggest that spinifexbirds have limited physiological adaptations to desert conditions compared with some other arid-zone birds.

Seasonal variation in energy expenditure, water flux and food consumption of Arabian oryx Oryx leucoryx

2001 ◽  
Vol 204 (13) ◽  
pp. 2301-2311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph B. Williams ◽  
Stéphane Ostrowski ◽  
Eric Bedin ◽  
Khairi Ismail
Keyword(s):  
Energy Expenditure ◽  
Metabolic Rate ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Water Loss ◽  
Arid Zone ◽  
Water Flux ◽  
Metabolic Rates ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Evaporative Water ◽  
Arabian Oryx

SUMMARY We report on the energy expenditure and water flux, measured in the laboratory and in the field, of the Arabian oryx Oryx leucoryx, the largest desert ruminant for which measurements of the field metabolic rate of free-living individuals have been made using doubly labeled water. Prior to extirpation of this species in the wild in 1972, conservationists sequestered a number of individuals for captive breeding; in 1989, oryx were reintroduced in Saudi Arabia into Mahazat as-Sayd (2244km2). Apart from small pools of water available after rains, oryx do not have free-standing water available for drinking and therefore rely on grasses that they eat for preformed water intake as well as their energy needs. We tested whether oryx have a reduced fasting metabolic rate and total evaporative water loss (TEWL) in the laboratory, as do some other arid-adapted mammals, and whether oryx have high field metabolic rates (FMRs) and water influx rates (WIRs), as predicted by allometric equations for large arid-zone mammals. We measured FMR and WIR during the hot summer, when plant moisture content was low and ambient temperatures were high, and after winter rains, when the water content of grasses was high. For captive oryx that weighed 84.1kg, fasting metabolic rate averaged 8980kJday−1, 16.7% lower than predictions for Artiodactyla. Our own re-analysis of minimal metabolic rates among Artiodactyla yielded the equation: logV̇O2=−0.153+0.758logM, where V̇O2 is the rate of oxygen uptake in lh−1 and M is body mass in kg. Fasting metabolic rate of oryx was only 9.1% lower than predicted, suggesting that they do not have an unusually low metabolic rate. TEWL averaged 870.0mlday−1, 63.9% lower than predicted, a remarkably low value even compared with the camel, but the mechanisms that contribute to such low rates of water loss remain unresolved. For free-living oryx, FMR was 11076kJday−1 for animals with a mean body mass of 81.5kg during summer, whereas it was 22081kJday−1 for oryx in spring with a mean body mass of 89.0kg, values that were 48.6% and 90.4% of allometric predictions, respectively. During summer, WIR averaged 1310mlH2Oday−1, whereas in spring it was 3438mlH2Oday−1. Compared with allometric predictions, WIR was 76.9% lower than expected in summer and 43.6% lower in spring. We found no evidence to support the view that the WIR of large desert ungulates is higher than that of their mesic counterparts. On the basis of the WIR of the oryx averaged over the year and the water contents of plants in their diet, we estimated that an oryx consumes 858kg of dry matter per year.

scholarly journals Energy expenditure of free-living reindeer estimated by the doubly labelled water method

Rangifer ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 20 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geir Gotaas ◽  
Eric Milne ◽  
Paul Haggarty ◽  
Nicholas J.C. Tyler
Keyword(s):  
Energy Expenditure ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
Water Flux ◽  
Co2 Production ◽  
Wild Ungulates ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Doubly Labelled Water ◽  
Svalbard Reindeer ◽  
Mountain Pasture ◽  
The Mean

The doubly labelled water (DLW) method was used to measure total energy expenditure (TEE) in three male reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) aged 22 months in winter (February) while the animals were living unrestricted at natural mountain pasture in northern Norway (69&deg;20'N). The concentrations of 2H and l8O were measured in water extracted from samples of faeces collecred from the animals 0.4 and 11.2 days after injection of the isotopes. Calculated rates of water flux and CO2-production were adjusted to compensate for estimated losses of 2H in faecal solids and in methane produced by microbial fermentation of forage in the rumen. The mean specific TEE in the three animals was 3.057 W.kg-1 (range 2.436 - 3.728 W.kg1). This value is 64% higher than TEE measured by the DLW method in four captive, non-pregnant adult female reindeer in winter and probably mainly reflects higher levels of locomotor activity in the free-living animals. Previous estimates of TEE in free-living Rangifer in winter based on factorial models range from 3.038 W.kg-1 in female woodland caribou (R. t. caribou) to 1.813 W.kg-1 in female Svalbard reindeer (R. t. platyrhynchus). Thus, it seems that existing factorial models are unlikely to overestimate TEE in reindeer/caribou: they may, instead, be unduly conservative. While the present study serves as a general validation of the factorial approach, we suggest that the route to progress in the understanding of field energetics in wild ungulates is via application of the DLW method.

Energy expenditure for thermoregulation and locomotion in emperor penguins

1976 ◽  
Vol 231 (3) ◽  
pp. 903-912 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Pinshow ◽  
MA Fedak ◽  
DR Battles ◽  
K Schmidt-Nielsen
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Rate ◽  
Energy Requirement ◽  
Thermal Conductance ◽  
Standard Metabolic Rate ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Breeding Cycle ◽  
Emperor Penguin ◽  
Energy Reserves ◽  
Ambient Temperatures ◽  
Emperor Penguins

During the antarctic winter emperor penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri) spend up to four mo fasting while they breed at rookeries 80 km or more from the sea, huddling close together in the cold. This breeding cycle makes exceptional demands on their energy reserves, and we therefore studied their thermoregulation and locomotion. Rates of metabolism were measured in five birds (mean body mass, 23.37 kg) at ambient temperatures ranging from 25 to -47 degrees C. Between 20 and -10 degrees C the metabolic rate (standard metabolic rate (SMR)) remained neraly constant, about 42.9 W. Below -10 degrees C metabolic rate increased lineraly with decreasing ambient temperature and at -47 degrees C it was 70% above the SMR. Mean thermal conductance below -10 degrees C was 1.57 W m-2 degrees C-1. Metabolic rate during treadmill walking increased linearly with increasing speed. Our data suggest that walking 200 km (from the sea to the rookery and back) requires less than 15% of the energy reserves of a breeding male emperor penguin initially weighing 35 kg. The high energy requirement for thermoregulation (about 85%) would, in the absence of huddling, probably exceed the total energy reserves.

Seasonal Field Energetics of the Rufous Rat-Kangaroo (Aepyprymnus-Rufescens)

1992 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 279 ◽  
Author(s):  
IR Wallis ◽  
B Green
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Water Flux ◽  
Behavioural Ecology ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Doubly Labelled Water ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Poor Understanding ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Difference

Water flux and field metabolic rate (FMR) were measured by the doubly labelled water (DLW) method in free-living male and female rufous rat-kangaroos Aepyprymnus rufescens near Drake in northern New South Wales. The mean FMR of 499 kJ kg-1 day-1 was similar in winter and summer even though the difference in mean minimum temperatures between the two seasons was 20-degrees-C. Furthermore, we did not find any differences in FMR between males and females even though several females carried large pouch young or had young-at-foot. A poor understanding of the diet and the behavioural ecology of A. rufescens makes ft difficult to explain the similarities between sexes and seasons.

Field Metabolism and Turnover in the Golden Bandicoot (Isoodon-Auratus) and Other Small Mammals From Barrow Island, Western-Australia

1994 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 29 ◽  
Author(s):  
SD Bradshaw ◽  
KD Morris ◽  
CR Dickman ◽  
PC Withers ◽  
D Murphy
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Water Flux ◽  
Sodium Content ◽  
Body Water ◽  
Electrolyte Balance ◽  
Turnover Rates ◽  
Sodium Influx ◽  
Doubly Labelled Water ◽  
General Improvement ◽  
Field Metabolic Rates

Barrow Island, which lies about 90 km north of Onslow off the arid Western Australian Pilbara coast, experienced its driest year on record in 1990 with a total of only 122.4 mm of rain. Golden bandicoots captured in November 1990 evidenced poor condition and mean body mass was a low 242.6 +/- 10.9 g with-a total body water content (TBW) of 76.3 +/- 1.4%. Despite this substantial loss of body water and solids, the animals maintained water and electrolyte balance during the period of turnover [water influx 79.5 +/- 6.9 v. efflux 83.3 +/- 5-7 mL (kg0.82 day)-1 and sodium influx 4.9 +/- 0.7 v. efflux 5.3 +/- 0.7 mmol (kg day)-1]. By April 1991, although only a further 37.4 mm of rain had been recorded on Barrow Island, the condition of the bandicoots had improved markedly, as a result of exploitation of insect resources, and their mean body mass had increased to 306.5 +/- 22.6 g and TBW decreased to 62.5 +/- 1.4% (both P < 0.001), the latter reflecting enhanced fat stores. This general improvement in condition of the bandicoots was in marked contrast to that of other herbivorous marsupials on the island. Rates of water and sodium turnover of the golden bandicoots were, however, not significantly different from those measured in the previous November, Field Metabolic Rates (FMRs), measured with doubly labelled water ((HHO))-H-3-O-18, were extremely low, averaging only 0.45 +/- 0.26 mL CO2 (g h)-1, which is very close to laboratory estimates of 0.35 +/- 0.09 mL O2(g h)-1 for the basal metabolic rate of this species. A major cyclone struck Barrow Island on 3 March 1992, with 162 mm of rain falling in 24 h, and turnover measurements in May of that year revealed a substantial increase in rates of water flux. Mean body mass further increased to 332.6 +/- 8.5 g and TBW averaged 61.8 +/- 1.1%. Water turnover rates were significantly elevated when compared with April of the previous year with an influx of 112.5 +/- 7.3 and an efflux of 119.0 +/- 7.6 mL (kg0.82 day)-1 respectively (both P = 0.001). Rates of sodium turnover, however, were only slightly lower at 3.6 +/- 0.5 and 4.1 +/- 0.5 mmol (kg day)-1 for influx and efflux respectively (P = 0.056 for influx only), suggesting a slight decrease in the average sodium content of the diet. The volume of water required to maintain hygric balance was estimated by regression analysis at 26.7 mL day-1 [=88.3 mL (kg0.82 day)-1] in November 1990, and 33-9 mL day-1 [=85.2 mL (kg0.82 day)-1] in May 1992, following rain. The FMR of eight bandicoots was very significantly elevated to 1.39 +/- 0.23 mL CO2 (g h)-1 after rain, which is substantially higher than even the FMR of 0.91 +/- 0.07 mL CO2(g h)-1, or 644 kJ day-1, reported for the closely related southern brown bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus) studied in the region of Perth by Nagy et al. (1991). Turnover rates of water and sodium for two rodent species, the Barrow Island mouse (Pseudomys nanus) and the rock rat (Zyzomys argurus), were very similar to those recorded for golden bandicoots in the dry period, but FMRs were a little higher at 0.80 +/- 0.26 and 0.59 +/- 0-36 mL CO2(g h)-l respectively. The FMR of Barrow Island mice increased very significantly to a mean of 2.73 +/- 0.50 mL CO2(g h)-l after rain, but rock rats were not caught at this time. The data document the impressive ability of these mammals to avail themselves of extremely limited resources and maintain physiological homoiostasis under conditions of extreme aridity.

Energetics of the Little Penguin, Eudyptula Minor: Temperature Regulation, the Calorigenic Effect of Food, and Moulting.

1986 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 35 ◽  
Author(s):  
RV Baudinette ◽  
P Gill ◽  
M O'driscoll
Keyword(s):  
Heat Production ◽  
Water Loss ◽  
Thermal Conductance ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
The Body ◽  
Evaporative Water Loss ◽  
Evaporative Water ◽  
Ambient Temperatures ◽  
Effect Of Food ◽  
Little Penguin

Rates of oxygen consumption and means of augmenting the resultant heat production were studied in the little penguin, Eudyptula minor. Metabolic rates were lower than those predicted for a 1-kg bird, but shivering and an energy response to feeding were both present. The latter effect was independent of ambient temperatures between 2 deg and 22 deg C. The birds have limited ability to dissipate heat by evaporative water loss. About 40% of the total heat production was the maximum amount lost by this route. Cooling of expired respiratory gas provided an effective saving of heat and water. Moulting resulted in a 1.5-fold increase in metabolic rate but rates of evaporative water loss were reduced. The increase in heat production is correlated with increased thermal conductance across the body surface, as new feathers are synthesized, but body temperature is the same as in non-moulting penguins. The results suggest that increased heat loss when the birds are in water might be replaced by calorigenesis associated with the response to feeding, and by shivering, as well as by activity.

Thermal Biology and Metabolism of the Greater Long-eared Bat, Nyctophilus major (Chiroptera :Vespertilionidae)

1997 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 145 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Hosken
Keyword(s):  
Water Loss ◽  
Thermal Conductance ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Production ◽  
Evaporative Water Loss ◽  
Detectable Effect ◽  
Evaporative Water ◽  
Ambient Temperatures ◽  
Fat Reserves ◽  
Metabolic Physiology ◽  
Vespertilionid Bats

Nyctophilus major is the largest member of its Australian-centred genus. Flow-through respirometry was used to investigate the thermal and metabolic physiology of adult N. major from south-western Australia. Oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, respiratory quotient, evaporative water loss and thermal conductance were measured at ambient temperatures of 5–40C. N. major was thermally labile and could be euthermic or torpid at low Ta. N. major entered into and spontaneously aroused from torpor at Tas as low as 5C, and became torpid at Tas as high as 23C. Like other temperate-zone Australian vespertilionid bats, some torpid N. major maintained a relatively high Tb at low Ta. Body mass and the duration of captivity had no detectable effect on the thermal responses of bats. The basal metabolic rate (BMR) of N. major was 85% of predicted, and falls within the the range of mass-specific BMRs reported for vespertilionid bats. While mean torpid á VO2 was reasonably high, torpor still facilitates substantial metabolic savings. However, because of the high á VO2 , N. major may not be able to remain torpid for more than about 60 days, relying solely on fat reserves. The evaporative water loss (EWL) of euthermic and torpid N. major was also high, although EWL during torpor was reduced compared with euthermy. Wet conductance was lower than predicted and probably relates to the solitary, tree-roosting habits of N. major. As has been reported for other bats, conductance values during torpor were lower than those during euthermy, but when torpid bats maintained a large ( Tb – Ta) differential at low Ta or became torpid at relatively high Ta , conductance values approached euthermic levels.

Thermoregulatory, metabolic and ventilatory physiology of the eastern barred bandicoot (Perameles gunnii)

2006 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander N. Larcombe ◽  
Philip C. Withers ◽  
Stewart C. Nicol
Keyword(s):  
Body Temperature ◽  
Metabolic Rate ◽  
Basal Metabolic Rate ◽  
Extraction Efficiency ◽  
Thermal Conductance ◽  
Minute Volume ◽  
Evaporative Water ◽  
Ambient Temperatures ◽  
Ventilatory Parameters ◽  
High Basal Metabolic Rate

Thermoregulatory, metabolic and ventilatory parameters measured for the Tasmanian eastern barred bandicoot (Perameles gunnii) in thermoneutrality (ambient temperature = 30°C) were: body temperature 35.1°C, basal metabolic rate 0.55 mL O2 g–1 h–1, wet thermal conductance 2.2 mL O2 g–1 h–1 °C–1, dry thermal conductance 1.4 J g–1 h–1 °C–1, ventilatory frequency 24.8 breaths min–1, tidal volume 9.9 mL, minute volume of 246 mL min–1, and oxygen extraction efficiency 22.2%. These physiological characteristics are consistent with a cool/wet distribution, e.g. high basal metabolic rate (3.33 mL O2 g–0.75 h–1) for thermogenesis, low thermal conductance (0.92 J g–1 h–1 °C–1 at 10°C) for heat retention and intolerance of high ambient temperatures (≥35°C) with panting, hyperthermia and high total evaporative water loss (16.9 mg H2O g–1 h–1).

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

1988 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 293 ◽  
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.

Seasonal Field Energetics and Water Fluxes of the Long-nosed Potoroo (Potorous tridactylus) in Southern Victoria

1997 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. R. Wallis ◽  
B. Green ◽  
K. Newgrain
Keyword(s):  
Water Status ◽  
Water Flux ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Doubly Labelled Water ◽  
Influx Rate ◽  
Hypogeous Fungi ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Field Metabolic Rates ◽  
Potorous Tridactylus

Field metabolic rates (FMRs) and water-flux rates of free-living male and female long-nosed potoroos (Potorous tridactylus) were measured in two seasons near Warrnambool in southern Victoria, Australia, using the doubly labelled water technique. Potoroos, which weighed about 835 g, expended 30% more energy (590 kJ day-1) in early spring than they did in midsummer (463 kJ day-1 ), despite mean minimum temperatures in the two seasons differing by only 4C. We did not find any difference in the FMRs of males and females even though all females carried pouch young or had young at foot. The mean water flux rates followed a similar seasonal trend to that of FMR with the summer mean influx rate (131 mL day-1 ) being 30% lower than that in spring (174 mL day-1 ). This difference in water-turnover rate may reflect changes in the seasonal water status of the environment. Hypogeous fungi constitute a major part of the diet of potoroos and the role played by this food source in supplying amino acids is discussed.

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