scholarly journals Evaporative Water Loss and Stopover Behavior in Three Passerine Bird Species During Autumn Migration

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernhard Paces ◽  
Barbara M. Waringer ◽  
Adi Domer ◽  
Darren Burns ◽  
Yoram Zvik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Loss ◽  
Migratory Birds ◽  
Drinking Behavior ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Passerine Bird ◽  
Ambient Conditions ◽  
Evaporative Water ◽  
Stopover Site ◽  
Total Body Mass ◽  
Total Body

Migratory birds are often not specifically adapted to arid conditions, yet several species travel across deserts during their journeys, and often have more or less short stopovers there. We investigated whether differences in thermoregulatory mechanisms, specifically evaporative cooling, explain the different behavior of three passerine species while stopping over in the Negev desert, Israel. We measured cutaneous water loss (CWL) under ambient conditions and the temperature of panting onset in an experimental setup. In addition, we performed behavioral observations of birds at a stopover site where we manipulated water availability. Blackcaps had slightly higher CWL at relatively low temperatures than Willow Warblers and Lesser Whitethroats. When considered relative to total body mass, however, Willow Warblers had the highest CWL of the three species. Blackcaps started panting at lower ambient temperature than the other two species. Taken together, these results suggest that Willow Warblers are the most efficient in cooling their body, possibly with the cost of needing to regain water by actively foraging during their staging. Lesser Whitethroats had a similar pattern, which was reflected in their slightly higher levels of activity and drinking behavior when water was available. However, in general the behavior of migratory species was not affected by the availability of water, and they were observed drinking rather rarely. Our results indicate that differences in thermoregulatory mechanisms might be at the basis of the evolution of different stopover strategies of migratory birds while crossing arid areas such as deserts.

Water Metabolism of the Domestic Fowl From Hatching to Maturity

1957 ◽  
Vol 190 (1) ◽  
pp. 139-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Medway ◽  
M. R. Kare
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Rate ◽  
Basal Metabolic Rate ◽  
Water Loss ◽  
Total Body Water ◽  
Domestic Fowl ◽  
Direct Method ◽  
Body Water ◽  
Water Metabolism ◽  
Evaporative Water ◽  
Total Body

The total evaporative water loss, total body water by the direct method and the basal metabolic rate were determined on domestic fowl at various stages of growth. The trials were conducted on a total of 440 birds. The combined respiratory and cutaneous water loss was high on the 1st day of life, dropped to a minimum between 1 and 2 weeks of age, rose sharply at 2–4 weeks of age, then gradually tapered off to the value observed in the adult. The total body water and the total body water on a fat-free basis was quite high on the 1st day of life, then gradually decreased to that of the adult. The basal metabolic rate was low on the 1st day, rose sharply to a maximum at 2–4 weeks of age and then gradually tapered off to that of the adult.

Dew-point hygrometry system for measurement of evaporative water loss in infants

1997 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
pp. 1008-1017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald L. Ariagno ◽  
Steven F. Glotzbach ◽  
Roger B. Baldwin ◽  
David M. Rector ◽  
Susan M. Bowley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Loss ◽  
Water Vapor Pressure ◽  
Skin Surface ◽  
Term Infant ◽  
Evaporative Water Loss ◽  
Dew Point ◽  
Ambient Conditions ◽  
Evaporative Water ◽  
Clinical Investigations ◽  
Vapor Pressure Gradient

Ariagno, Ronald L., Steven F. Glotzbach, Roger B. Baldwin, David M. Rector, Susan M. Bowley, and Robert J. Moffat.Dew-point hygrometry system for measurement of evaporative water loss in infants. J. Appl. Physiol.82(3): 1008–1017, 1997.—Evaporation of water from the skin is an important mechanism in thermal homeostasis. Resistance hygrometry, in which the water vapor pressure gradient above the skin surface is calculated, has been the measurement method of choice in the majority of pediatric investigations. However, resistance hygrometry is influenced by changes in ambient conditions such as relative humidity, surface temperature, and convection currents. We have developed a ventilated capsule method that minimized these potential sources of measurement error and that allowed second-by-second, long-term, continuous measurements of evaporative water loss in sleeping infants. Air with a controlled reference humidity (dew-point temperature = 0°C) is delivered to a small, lightweight skin capsule and mixed with the vapor on the surface of the skin. The dew point of the resulting mixture is measured by using a chilled mirror dew-point hygrometer. The system indicates leaks, is mobile, and is accurate within 2%, as determined by gravimetric calibration. Examples from a recording of a 13-wk-old full-term infant obtained by using the system give evaporative water loss rates of ∼0.02 mgH2O ⋅ cm−2 ⋅ min−1for normothermic baseline conditions and values up to 0.4 mgH2O ⋅ cm−2 ⋅ min−1 when the subject was being warmed. The system is effective for clinical investigations that require dynamic measurements of water loss.

Validation of the doubly labeled water method under low and high humidity to estimate metabolic rate and water flux in a tropical snake (Boiga irregularis)

2003 ◽  
Vol 95 (1) ◽  
pp. 184-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy L. Anderson ◽  
Thomas E. Hetherington ◽  
Joseph B. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Rate ◽  
Water Loss ◽  
Water Flux ◽  
High Humidity ◽  
Doubly Labeled Water ◽  
Boiga Irregularis ◽  
Evaporative Water ◽  
Water Efflux ◽  
Low Humidity ◽  
Total Body

This study uses indirect calorimetry to assess the effects of humidity on the accuracy of the doubly labeled water (DLW) technique to predict metabolic rate and water flux in brown treesnakes ( Boiga irregularis). The DLW technique accurately predicted total water efflux in brown treesnakes under low-humidity conditions and found that the total number of water molecules exchanged with the environment under humid conditions was not significantly different than maximum net total evaporative water loss under low humidity conditions plus fecal water loss. Because of changes of total body water of >12%, the DLW technique overestimated metabolic rate by a factor of 2.2 under low-humidity conditions. Under high-humidity conditions, the DLW technique overestimated metabolic rate in brown treesnakes by a factor of 4.6. Researchers using the DLW technique in humid or moist environments should be cautious because this study indicates that DLW estimates of metabolic rate may be inflated when large amounts of water vapor are exchanged through the skin or respiratory passages.

scholarly journals Stopover decision during migration: physiological conditions predict nocturnal restlessness in wild passerines

2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 302-305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonida Fusani ◽  
Massimiliano Cardinale ◽  
Claudio Carere ◽  
Wolfgang Goymann
Keyword(s):  
Migratory Birds ◽  
Subcutaneous Fat ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Quantitative Relationship ◽  
Migratory Restlessness ◽  
Stopover Site ◽  
Quantitative Evidence ◽  
Physiological Conditions ◽  
Ecological Barriers ◽  
Before And After

During migration, a number of bird species rely on stopover sites for resting and feeding before and after crossing ecological barriers such as deserts or seas. The duration of a stopover depends on the combined effects of environmental factors, endogenous programmes and physiological conditions. Previous studies indicated that lean birds prolong their refuelling stopover compared with fat birds; however, the quantitative relationship between physiological conditions and stopover behaviour has not been studied yet. Here, we tested in a large sample of free-living birds of three European passerines (whinchats, Saxicola rubetra , garden warblers, Sylvia borin and whitethroats, Sylvia communis ) whether the amount of migratory restlessness (Zugunruhe) shown at a stopover site depends on physiological conditions. An integrated measure of condition based on body mass, amount of subcutaneous fat and thickness of pectoral muscles strongly predicted the intensity of Zugunruhe shown in recording cages in the night following capture. These results provide novel and robust quantitative evidence in support of the hypothesis that the amount of energy reserves plays a major role in determining the stopover duration in migratory birds.

Fragmentation and elevation effects on bird–army ant interactions in neotropical montane forest of Costa Rica

2007 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 581-590 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anjali Kumar ◽  
Sean O'Donnell
Keyword(s):  
Costa Rica ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Flock Size ◽  
Army Ants ◽  
Total Body Mass ◽  
Army Ant ◽  
Continuous Forest ◽  
Total Body

Army ants (Formicidae: Ecitoninae) are top predators in neotropical forests. Army ant raids support a community of diverse organisms, including birds that attend the raids to collect prey. While elevation and forest fragmentation influence army ant and insectivorous bird communities, their effects on the interaction between army ants and bird species is unknown. We studied the size and species composition of bird flocks attending army ant swarms in forest fragments and continuous forest across an elevational gradient (1100–1680 m asl) in a neotropical montane region (Monteverde, Costa Rica). We observed a total of 41 bird species attending army ant swarms. Neither the number of birds, nor the total body mass of birds, nor the number of bird species in attending bird flocks was related to elevation. However, we found a higher bird species richness, larger flock size and greater total body mass of birds attending army ant swarms in continuous forest. Continuous and fragmented forest shared many attending bird species in common, but there was elevational segregation of attending bird species. Some montane endemic birds, and neotropical migrants, attend swarms regularly and use army ant raids as a food source.

scholarly journals Identification Of Migratory Birds And Their Spesific Characteristics Of Habitat In The Salt Water Lake Of Gili Meno, North Lombok Distric

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 25
Author(s):  
Diah Purwitasari ◽  
Luh Gde Sri Astiti ◽  
Supriadi Supriadi
Keyword(s):  
Migratory Birds ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Salt Water ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Small Fish ◽  
Importance Value Index ◽  
Stopover Site ◽  
Water Lake ◽  
Wiener Diversity Index ◽  
Mangrove Vegetation

The aim of this research was to identify the species of migratory birds in the ecosystem of salt water lake of Gili Meno and their specific characteristics of habitat. Data collection for birds, mangrove and fish species has been carried out in September and October 2013.  In this study, a Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index and Importance Value Index (IVI) of mangrove vegetation were calculated to identify carrying capacity of mangrove population in the form of specific habitat in salt water lake of Gili Meno. This research has identified 17 species of birds which are divided into 5 families: Scolopacidae, Charadriidae, Ardeidae, Meropidae and Alcedinidae. Moreover, 3 species of mangrove were discovered that are <em>A. marina, A. lanata </em>and <em>E. Agallocha</em>, as well as one species of fish (Mujair fish/<em>O. mossambicus</em>). <em>N. Nycticorax </em>and <em>B. Striatus</em> were well-known to have higher population than other bird species.  The Diversity Index showed that mangrove vegetation in the ecosystem of salt water lake of Gili Meno has a low species diversity (0.565). This is due to higher dominance of one species than the others.  What is more, the IVI of <em>A. marina </em>demonstrated a fairly significant value compared to that of other species (189,01).  Mangrove vegetation which surrounds the ecosystem of salt water lake of Gili Meno has formed a unique habitat and and an ideal stopover site for migratory birds. The ecosystem not only provides shelters from predators but also supplies for various abundant feeding sources.  The lake it self is rather shallow and muddy around the shore which gives advantages for the migratory birds to obtain plenty small fish from the lake.

Adaptive thermogenesis in hummingbirds

2002 ◽  
Vol 205 (15) ◽  
pp. 2267-2273 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Eduardo P. W. Bicudo ◽  
Antonio C. Bianco ◽  
Cláudia R. Vianna
Keyword(s):  
Uncoupling Protein ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Atp Synthesis ◽  
Total Body Mass ◽  
Ambient Temperatures ◽  
Adaptive Thermogenesis ◽  
Brown Adipose ◽  
Intracellular Compartments ◽  
Total Body ◽  
Shivering Thermogenesis

SUMMARY The occurrence of non-shivering thermogenesis in birds has long been a controversial issue. Although birds are endothermic vertebrates, sharing with mammals (placental mammals and marsupials) a common ancestor, they do not possess brown adipose tissue or a similar type of tissue, unlike their mammalian counterparts. Some bird species are, however, able to withstand very low ambient temperatures (-70 °C) or undergo periods of heterothermia, and there is now good experimental evidence showing that non-shivering thermogenesis may indeed occur in birds under such conditions. The skeletal muscles of birds, particularly the flight muscles, occupy a significant fraction (approximately 30 %) of the total body mass, and recent results have shown that they are likely to be the main sites for non-shivering thermogenesis. The precise mechanisms involved in adaptive thermogenesis in birds are still not fully understood. The translocation of Ca2+between intracellular compartments and the cystosol mediated by the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase, uncoupled from ATP synthesis,is one mechanism whereby chemi-osmotic energy can be converted into heat, and it has been proposed as one of the possible mechanisms underlying non-shivering thermogenesis in birds on the basis of data obtained mainly from ducklings acclimatized to cold conditions. The recent characterization of an uncoupling protein homolog in avian skeletal muscle and the expression of its mRNA at different stages of the torpor/rewarming cycle of hummingbirds indicate that it has the potential to function as an uncoupling protein and could play a thermogenic role during rewarming in these birds.

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