Thermal relations of metabolic rate reduction in a hibernating marsupial

1997 ◽  
Vol 273 (6) ◽  
pp. R2097-R2104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaowei Song ◽  
Gerhard Körtner ◽  
Fritz Geiser

We tested whether the reduction of metabolic rate (MR) in hibernating Cercartetus nanus (Marsupialia, 36 g) is better explained by the reduction of body temperature (Tb), the differential (ΔT) between Tb and air temperature (Ta), or thermal conductance (C). Above the critical Ta during torpor (Ttc) of 4.8 ± 0.7°C, where the Tb was not regulated, the steady-state MR was an exponential function of Tb( r 2 = 0.92), and the overall Q10 was 3.3. However, larger Q10 values were observed at high Tb values during torpor, particularly within the thermoneutral zone (Q10 = 9.5), whereas low Q10 values were observed below Tb 20°C (Q10 = 1.9). The ΔT did not change over Ta 5–20°C, although MR fell, and therefore the two variables were not correlated. Below the Ttc, Tb was regulated at 6.1 ± 1.0°C and MR increased proportionally to ΔT. Our study suggests that MR in torpid C. nanus is largely determined by temperature effects and metabolic inhibition. In contrast, ΔT explains MR only below the Ttc and C appears to affect MR only indirectly via changes of Tb, suggesting that ΔT and C play only a secondary role in MR reduction during hibernation.

2003 ◽  
Vol 51 (6) ◽  
pp. 603 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. P. Ikonomopoulou ◽  
R. W. Rose

We investigated the metabolic rate, thermoneutral zone and thermal conductance of the eastern barred bandicoot in Tasmania. Five adult eastern barred bandicoots (two males, three non-reproductive females) were tested at temperatures of 3, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40°C. The thermoneutral zone was calculated from oxygen consumption and body temperature, measured during the daytime: their normal resting phase. It was found that the thermoneutral zone lies between 25°C and 30°C, with a minimum metabolic rate of 0.51 mL g–1 h–1 and body temperature of 35.8°C. At cooler ambient temperatures (3–20°C) the body temperature decreased to approximately 34.0°C while the metabolic rate increased from 0.7 to 1.3 mL g–1�h–1. At high temperatures (35°C and 40°C) both body temperature (36.9–38.7°C) and metabolic rate (1.0–1.5 mL g–1 h–1) rose. Thermal conductance was low below an ambient temperature of 30°C but increased significantly at higher temperatures. The low thermal conductance (due, in part, to good insulation, a reduced body temperature at lower ambient temperatures, combined with a relatively high metabolic rate) suggests that this species is well adapted to cooler environments but it could not thermoregulate easily at temperatures above 30°C.


2003 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 43 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. J. Dixon ◽  
R. W. Rose

The energetics of the lesser long-eared bat, Nyctophilus geoffroyi, at the southern limits of its distribution was examined to determine whether this species shows any latitudinal variation in this aspect of its physiological ecology. Estimates of metabolic rate were obtained from the oxygen consumption of adult bats in a non-reproductive condition. Values for the thermoneutral zone were similar but thermal conductance was lower than for bats from mainland of Australia. Euthermic body temperature was higher (37.4 ± 0.2°C) and the ambient temperature at which N. geoffroyi entered torpor has a downward shift of 10°C at the southern limits of its distribution. The basal metabolic rate (1.12 ± 0.14 mL O2 g–1 h–1) also was lower than in lower latitudes. Thermal conductance of the bats in Tasmania was lower than that found in New South Wales or Western Australia (0.29 v. 0.38–0.39 mL O2 g–1 h–1 °C–1). All of these differences are apparently adaptations to a cooler environment.


1961 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 301-314 ◽  
Author(s):  
BODIL NIELSEN

1. In two species of Lacerta (L. viridis and L. sicula) the effects on respiration of body temperature (changes in metabolic rate) and of CO2 added to the inspired air were studied. 2. Pulmonary ventilation increases when body temperature increases. The increase is brought about by an increase in respiratory frequency. No relationship is found between respiratory depth and temperature. 3. The rise in ventilation is provoked by the needs of metabolism and is not established for temperature regulating purposes (in the temperature interval 10°-35°C). 4. The ventilation per litre O2 consumed has a high numerical value (about 75, compared to about 20 in man). It varies with the body temperature and demonstrates that the inspired air is better utilized at the higher temperatures. 5. Pulmonary ventilation increases with increasing CO2 percentages in the inspired air between o and 3%. At further increases in the CO2 percentage (3-13.5%) it decreases again. 6. At each CO2 percentage the pulmonary ventilation reaches a steady state after some time (10-60 min.) and is then unchanged over prolonged periods (1 hr.). 7. The respiratory frequency in the steady state decreases with increasing CO2 percentages. The respiratory depth in the steady state increases with increasing CO2 percentages. This effect of CO2 breathing is not influenced by a change in body temperature from 20° to 30°C. 8. Respiration is periodically inhibited by CO2 percentages above 4%. This inhibition, causing a Cheyne-Stokes-like respiration, ceases after a certain time, proportional to the CO2 percentage (1 hr. at 8-13% CO2), and respiration becomes regular (steady state). Shift to room air breathing causes an instantaneous increase in frequency to well above the normal value followed by a gradual decrease to normal values. 9. The nature of the CO2 effect on respiratory frequency and respiratory depth is discussed, considering both chemoreceptor and humoral mechanisms.


1993 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 67 ◽  
Author(s):  
F Geiser

The pattern of torpor was examined in the eastern pygmy possum, Cercartetus nanus (21 g). Animals displayed torpor regularly in the laboratory, and the occurrence of torpor increased with decreasing air temperature (T(a)). At high T(a) (18-degrees-C) animals usually exhibited daily torpor, but torpor bouts of up to 2 days were observed occasionally. The duration of torpor bouts lengthened with a lowering of T(a) and the mean bout duration at T(a) = 5-degrees-C was 17.0 +/- 2.5 days. The minimum metabolic rate (measured as rate of oxygen consumption) of torpid individuals was 0.018 +/- 0.003 mL O2 g-1 h-1, which is less than 2% of the basal metabolic rate. The body temperature (T(b)) Of torpid animals fell to a minimum of 1.3 +/- 0.4-degrees-C. These results clearly demonstrate that Cercartetus nanus is a deep hibernator.


2006 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander N. Larcombe ◽  
Philip C. Withers ◽  
Stewart C. Nicol

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).


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamidreza Aftabi ◽  
Rezvan Nasiri ◽  
Majid Nili Ahmadabadi

AbstractDue to the complexity and high degrees of freedom, the detailed assessment of human biomechanics is necessary for the design and optimization of an effective exoskeleton. In this paper, we present full kinematics, dynamics, and biomechanics assessment of unpowered exoskeleton augmentation for human running gait. To do so, the considered case study is the assistive torque profile of I-RUN. Our approach is using some extensive data-driven OpenSim simulation results employing a generic lower limb model with 92-muscles and 29-DOF. In the simulation, it is observed that exoskeleton augmentation leads to $$4.62\%$$ 4.62 % metabolic rate reduction for the stiffness coefficient of $$\alpha ^*=0.6$$ α ∗ = 0.6 . Moreover, this optimum stiffness coefficient minimizes the biological hip moment by $$26\%$$ 26 % . The optimum stiffness coefficient ($$\alpha ^*=0.6$$ α ∗ = 0.6 ) also reduces the average force of four major hip muscles, i.e., Psoas, Gluteus Maximus, Rectus Femoris, and Semimembranosus. The effect of assistive torque profile on the muscles’ fatigue is also studied. Interestingly, it is observed that at $$\alpha ^{\#}=0.8$$ α # = 0.8 , both all 92 lower limb muscles’ fatigue and two hip major mono-articular muscles’ fatigue have the maximum reduction. This result re-confirm our hypothesis that ”reducing the forces of two antagonistic mono-articular muscles is sufficient for involved muscles’ total fatigue reduction.” Finally, the relation between the amount of metabolic rate reduction and kinematics of hip joint is examined carefully where for the first time, we present a reliable kinematic index for prediction of the metabolic rate reduction by I-RUN augmentation. This index not only explains individual differences in metabolic rate reduction but also provides a quantitative measure for training the subjects to maximize their benefits from I-RUN.


1992 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 523 ◽  
Author(s):  
PC Withers

The Barrow I. golden bandicoot (Isoodon auratus) is a small arid-adapted marsupial. It has a low and labile body temperature, a low basal metabolic rate, a low thermal conductance, and a low rate of evaporative water loss. Its metabolic, thermal and hygric physiology resembles that of another arid-adapted bandicoot, the bilby, and differs from temperate and tropical bandicoots.


1973 ◽  
Vol 51 (8) ◽  
pp. 841-846 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lawrence C. H. Wang ◽  
Douglas L. Jones ◽  
Robert A. MacArthur ◽  
William A. Fuller

Unlike other lagomorphs or any other mammals living in a cold environment, the basal metabolic rate of the arctic hare, Lepus arcticus monstrabilis (0.36 cm3 O2/g per hour) was only 62–83% of the values predicted from its body weight. The minimum thermal conductance (0.010 cm3 O2/g per hour per degree centigrade) was also reduced to only 51–59% of its weight-specific value (0.019–0.017 cm3 O2/g per hour per degree centigrade). The normal body temperature (38.9C), however, was comparable to that of other lagomorphs. The daily energy consumption between ambient temperatures of −24 and 12.5C was between 262 and 133 kcal, which is 6–43% above the minimum resting values at corresponding ambient temperatures.It is concluded that the reduction of surface area to volume ratio and the effectiveness of its insulation are sufficient compensations so that the arctic hare can maintain a normal body temperature with a depressed basal metabolic rate. Such a reduction of metabolism is energetically adaptive for a species living exclusively in a cold and relatively barren habitat.


1999 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claus Bech ◽  
Stewart C. Nicol

Oxygen consumption (VO2) and body temperature (Tb) were measured during daytime (corresponding to the normal resting phase) in the tawny frogmouth (Podargus strigoides, mean body mass of 341 g) at ambient temperatures (Ta) between -1ºC and 30ºC. Mean body temperature (over this range of Ta) was 37.8ºC and there was only a small (0.4ºC), and insignificant, day-night variation in Tb. Mean VO2 within thermoneutrality (25-30ºC) was 0.59 mL O2 g-1 h-1 , corresponding to a basal metabolic rate (BMR) of 3.32 W kg-1 . This value is only 61% of the predicted value for a non-passeriform bird. The minimal thermal conductance attained at Ta below thermoneutrality was 0.156 W kg-1 ºC-1, a value which is very close to the allometrically predicted value. The relatively low VO2 was paralleled by a low total ventilatory volume. This, in turn, was mainly the result of a low respiratory frequency (10.2 breaths min-1, only 52% of that expected for a similar-sized bird) whereas tidal volume (6.6 mL [BTPS]) was 107% of the expected value. Thus, our results suggest that the changing ventilatory needs during the evolution of the low VO2 in the tawny frogmouth have been met primarily by changes in respiratory frequency.


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