scholarly journals The energetic cost of short flights in birds

2000 ◽  
Vol 203 (10) ◽  
pp. 1561-1572 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.L. Nudds ◽  
D.M. Bryant
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Rate ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Basal Metabolic Rate ◽  
Flight Time ◽  
Taeniopygia Guttata ◽  
Mechanical Power ◽  
Energetic Cost ◽  
Metabolic Power ◽  
Large Component ◽  
Doubly Labelled Water

Many small birds perform short flights, for which take-offs, ascents and descents form a large component of the total flight time and which are characterised by low airspeeds. Using the doubly-labelled water technique, zebra finches Taeniopygia guttata engaging in repeated short flights were found to expend 13.65 kJ more than ‘non-flying’ controls, which equated to a flight expenditure of 27.8 times their basal metabolic rate. This is over three times the predicted flight expenditure derived from existing aerodynamic models. These data were used to determine a coefficient (0.11) for converting the mechanical power derived from aerodynamic models into metabolic power. An equation is presented, based on body mass, which can be used to predict the costs of short flights in ecological and behavioural studies of birds.

The relationship between body mass and rate of rewarming from hibernation and daily torpor in mammals

1990 ◽  
Vol 151 (1) ◽  
pp. 349-359 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Geiser ◽  
R. V. Baudinette
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Rate ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Air Temperature ◽  
Basal Metabolic Rate ◽  
Strong Relationship ◽  
The Other ◽  
Daily Torpor ◽  
Pronounced Increase ◽  
The Relationship

1. Rewarming rate from torpor and body mass were inversely related in 86 mammals ranging in body mass between 2 and 8500 g. 2. Most of the mammalian taxa investigated showed a similar change of rewarming rate with body mass. Only the insectivores showed a more pronounced increase in rewarming with a decrease in body mass than did the other taxa. The rates of rewarming of marsupials were similar to those of placentals. 3. At low air temperature (Ta), the rate of rewarming of marsupials was not related to body mass, although a strong relationship between the two variables was observed in the same species at high Ta. 4. The slopes relating rewarming rates and body mass of the mammalian groups and taxa analysed here were similar to those obtained earlier for mass-specific basal metabolic rate (BMR) and body mass in mammals, suggesting that the rate of rewarming and BMR are physiologically linked.

scholarly journals Consequences of load carrying by birds during short flights are found to be behavioral and not energetic

2002 ◽  
Vol 283 (1) ◽  
pp. R249-R256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert L. Nudds ◽  
David M. Bryant
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Power Input ◽  
Mechanical Power ◽  
Zebra Finches ◽  
Mass Loading ◽  
Metabolic Power ◽  
Additional Mass ◽  
Reduced Body ◽  
Mechanical Power Output ◽  
Load Carrying

The doubly-labeled water technique and video were used to measure the effect of mass loading on energy expenditure and takeoff performance in zebra finches, Taeniopygia guttata, that were making routine (nonalarm) short flights. Finches that carried 27% additional mass did not expend more energy during flight than unloaded controls. Carrying additional mass, however, led to a reduced body mass and a decreased velocity during takeoffs (by 12%). Calculations of instantaneous mechanical power indicated that energy expended by unloaded and loaded finches at takeoff was similar, due to the observed decrease in velocity by mass-loaded finches and a lowering of their body mass. During routine short flights, zebra finches appear to maintain their metabolic power input and mechanical power output regardless of mass loading. Here, the costs of carrying additional mass during routine short flights were revealed to be behavioral and not energetic.

Doubly labelled water measurements of field metabolic rate in White-tailed Ptarmigan: variation in background isotope abundances and effect on CO2 production estimates

1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (11) ◽  
pp. 1967-1972 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald W. Thomas ◽  
Kathy Martin ◽  
Hélène Lapierre
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Rate ◽  
Ambient Temperature ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Empirical Model ◽  
Rocky Mountains ◽  
Co2 Production ◽  
Doubly Labelled Water ◽  
Field Metabolic Rate ◽  
Lagopus Leucurus ◽  
Colorado Rocky Mountains

We measured background 2H and 18O abundances and field metabolic rate (FMR) for White-tailed Ptarmigan (Lagopus leucurus) above 3600 m elevation in the Colorado Rocky Mountains between May and July. 18O abundances ranged from 1982.4 to 2018.6 ppm [Formula: see text], while 2H abundance ranged from 142.8 to 154.0 ppm [Formula: see text]. Mean 2H abundance followed closely (−0.3 ppm deviation) the level predicted by Tatner's empirical model relating 2H and ambient temperature. However, 18O was more enriched than predicted (+3.4 ppm), which may reflect 18O fractionation in the plant diet. FMR, measured by means of the doubly labelled water method, ranged from 206.4 to 442.7 kJ/d and was not related to body mass. However, for males, FMR was significantly and positively related to age. Because of high variation in background isotope levels, the use of mean 2H and 18O background abundances instead of individual backgrounds would introduce a mean error of 7.1% (range −8.9 to +11.4%) in calculations of CO2 production and FMR.

scholarly journals The Energetic Cost of Feather Synthesis Is Proportional to Basal Metabolic Rate

1993 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 490-510 ◽  
Author(s):  
Åke Lindström ◽  
G. Henk Visser ◽  
Serge Daan
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Rate ◽  
Basal Metabolic Rate ◽  
Energetic Cost

Basal metabolic rate in adults with growth hormone deficiency and in patients with acromegaly: relationship with lean body mass, plasma insulin level and leucocyte sodium pump activity

1992 ◽  
Vol 83 (3) ◽  
pp. 325-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Franco Salomon ◽  
Ross C. Cuneo ◽  
Richard Hesp ◽  
Jenny F. Morris ◽  
Lucilla Poston ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Hormone ◽  
Metabolic Rate ◽  
Growth Hormone Deficiency ◽  
Lean Body Mass ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Basal Metabolic Rate ◽  
Plasma Insulin ◽  
Recombinant Human Growth Hormone ◽  
Hormone Deficiency ◽  
Sodium Efflux

1. The relationship of lean body mass, plasma insulin concentration and leucocyte active sodium transport with basal metabolic rate was investigated in 24 adults with growth hormone deficiency before and after treatment with recombinant human growth hormone and in 10 patients with untreated acromegaly. 2. Based on total-body potassium determined by whole-body 40K counting, patients with acromegaly had increased lean body mass, whereas lack of growth hormone was associated with decreased lean body mass. 3. By indirect calorimetry, patients with acromegaly had increased basal metabolic rates and patients with growth hormone deficiency had decreased values when expressed as percentages of values predicted from the WHO/FAO/UNU equations. Basal metabolic rate expressed in terms of lean body mass was similar in acromegaly and growth hormone deficiency, but was higher than normal in both patient groups. 4. The leucocyte ouabain-sensitive sodium efflux rate constant was decreased in both patients with acromegaly and patients with growth hormone deficiency, and there was no correlation with basal energy expenditure, fasting plasma insulin level or serum growth hormone level. 5. There was no increase in the sodium efflux rate constant in patients with growth hormone deficiency after 1 month on treatment with recombinant human growth hormone. 6. Apparent differences in basal metabolic rate in growth hormone deficiency and acromegaly are due to changes in lean body mass. Both adults with growth hormone deficiency and patients with acromegaly have increased energy expenditure, probably owing to changes in fuel metabolism which are not reflected in the leucocyte sodium pump activity.

Field Metabolic Rate and Water Flux of Nectarivorous Honeyeaters

1996 ◽  
Vol 44 (5) ◽  
pp. 445 ◽  
Author(s):  
WW Weathers ◽  
DC Paton ◽  
RS Seymour
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Rate ◽  
Basal Metabolic Rate ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Water Flux ◽  
Doubly Labelled Water ◽  
Field Metabolic Rate ◽  
Influx Rate ◽  
Water Influx ◽  
Average Water ◽  
Foraging Tactic

Field metabolic rate (FMR) and water influx of New Holland honeyeaters (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae), eastern spinebills (Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris) and a crescent honeyeater (P. pyrrhoptera) were measured by the doubly labelled water technique. New Holland honeyeaters had just finished breeding and were beginning their summer moult. They ranged in mass from 15.4 to 21.0 g (mean = 17.3 g, n = 12) and had FMRs averaging 8.8 mt CO2 g(-1) h(-1) or 77.6 kJ day(-1), which was 2.8 times their measured basal metabolic rate (BMR). Their water influx rate averaged 10.7 mL day(-1). Eastern spinebills were still feeding young and had yet to begin moulting. They ranged in mass from 8.0 to 10.7 g (mean = 9.7 g, n = 6), had FMRs averaging 10.9 mL CO2 g(-1) h(-1) or 52.9 kJ day(-1) (2.5 times their measured BMR), and had an average water influx rate of 8.7 mL day(-1). FMR and water influx of a single 14.6-g crescent honeyeater, which was in late primary moult, were 75.9 kJ day(-1) (2.7 times measured BMR) and 12.5 mL day(-1). The FMR of New Holland honeyeaters varied inversely with mean standard operative temperature (T-es) calculated for values of T-es below 20 degrees C as follows: FMR (kJ day(-1)) = 134 - 5.47 T-es (n = 12, r(2) = 0.52). Honeyeater FMRs were much lower than would be predicted allometrically for hummingbirds of the same mass, reflecting the honeyeaters' low-cost foraging tactic of consuming nectar while perched.

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