Comparative thermoregulatory physiology of two dunnarts, Sminthopsis macroura and Sminthopsis ooldea (Marsupialia : Dasyuridae)

2012 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean Tomlinson ◽  
Philip C. Withers ◽  
Shane K. Maloney
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Rate ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Water Loss ◽  
Water Requirements ◽  
Evaporative Water ◽  
Thermoneutral Zone ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Sminthopsis Macroura ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Climatic Envelope

Metabolic rate and evaporative water loss (EWL) were measured to quantify the thermoregulatory patterns of two dasyurids, the stripe-faced dunnart (Sminthopsis macroura) and the Ooldea dunnart (S. ooldea) during acute exposure to Ta between 10 and 35°C. S. macroura maintained consistent Tb across the Ta range, whereas S. ooldea was more thermolabile. The metabolic rate of both species decreased from Ta = 10°C to BMR at Ta = 30°C. Mass-adjusted BMR at Ta = 30°C was the same for the two species, but there was no common regression of metabolic rate below the thermoneutral zone (TNZ). There was no significant difference between the species in allometrically corrected EWL at Ta = 30°C. Total EWL increased significantly at Ta = 10 and 35°C compared with the TNZ for S. macroura, but was consistent across the Ta range for S. ooldea. At any Ta below the TNZ, S. macroura required more energy per gram of body mass than S. ooldea, and had a higher EWL at the lower critical Ta. By being thermolabile S. ooldea reduced its energetic requirements and water loss at low Ta. The more constant thermoregulatory strategy of S. macroura may allow it to exploit a broad climatic envelope, albeit at the cost of higher energetic and water requirements. Since S. ooldea does not expend as much energy and water on thermoregulation this may be a response to the very low productivity, ‘hyperarid’ conditions of its central Australian distribution.

scholarly journals Flexibility in basal metabolic rate and evaporative water loss among hoopoe larks exposed to different environmental temperatures

2000 ◽  
Vol 203 (20) ◽  
pp. 3153-3159 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.B. Williams ◽  
B.I. Tieleman
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Metabolic Rate ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Cold Exposure ◽  
Basal Metabolic Rate ◽  
Water Loss ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Exposure Group ◽  
Internal Organs ◽  
Evaporative Water

The ‘energy demand’ hypothesis for short-term adjustments in basal metabolic rate (BMR) posits that birds adjust the size of their internal organs relative to food intake, a correlate of energy demand. We tested this hypothesis on hoopoe larks (Alaemon alaudipes), inhabitants of the Arabian desert, by acclimating birds for 3 weeks at 15 degrees C and at 36 degrees C, then measuring their BMR and total evaporative water loss (TEWL). Thereafter, we determined the dry masses of their brain, heart, liver, kidney, stomach, intestine and muscles of the pectoral region. Although mean body mass did not differ initially between the two groups, after 3 weeks, birds in the 15 degrees C group had gained mass (44.1+/−6.5 g), whereas larks in the 36 degrees C group had maintained a constant mass (36.6+/−3.6 g; means +/− s.d., N=6). Birds in the 15 degrees C group had a mean BMR of 46.8+/−6.9 kJ day(−1), whereas birds in the 36 degrees C group had a BMR of 32.9+/−6.3 kJ day(−1), values that were significantly different when we controlled for differences in body mass. When measured at 35 degrees C, larks in the cold-exposure group had a TEWL of 3.55+/−0.60 g H(2)O day(−)(1), whereas TEWL for birds in the 36 degrees C group averaged 2.23+/−0.28 g H(2)O day(−1), a difference of 59.2%. Mass-independent TEWL differed significantly between groups. Larks in the 15 degrees C group had a significantly larger liver, kidney and intestine than larks in the 36 degrees C group. The total increase in organ mass contributed 14.3% towards the total mass increment in the cold exposure group. Increased food intake among larks in the cold group apparently resulted in enlargement of some of the internal organs, and the increase in mass of these organs required a higher rate of oxygen uptake to support them. As oxygen demands increased, larks apparently lost more evaporative water, but the relationship between increases in BMR and TEWL remains unresolved.

scholarly journals The role of ambient temperature and body mass on body temperature, standard metabolic rate and evaporative water loss in southern African anurans of different habitat specialisation

PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e7885 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohlamatsane Mokhatla ◽  
John Measey ◽  
Ben Smit
Keyword(s):  
Body Temperature ◽  
Metabolic Rate ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Water Loss ◽  
Standard Metabolic Rate ◽  
Evaporative Water Loss ◽  
Evaporative Water ◽  
Habitat Specialisation ◽  
Wide Range

Temperature and water availability are two of the most important variables affecting all aspects of an anuran’s key physiological processes such as body temperature (Tb), evaporative water loss (EWL) and standard metabolic rate (SMR). Since anurans display pronounced sexual dimorphism, evidence suggests that these processes are further influenced by other factors such as vapour pressure deficit (VPD), sex and body mass (Mb). However, a limited number of studies have tested the generality of these results across a wide range of ecologically relevant ambient temperatures (Ta), while taking habitat use into account. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the role of Ta on Tb, whole-animal EWL and whole-animal SMR in three wild caught African anuran species with different ecological specialisations: the principally aquatic African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis), stream-breeding common river frog (Amietia delalandii), and the largely terrestrial raucous toad (Sclerophrys capensis). Experiments were conducted at a range of test temperatures (5–35 °C, at 5 °C increments). We found that VPD better predicted rates of EWL than Ta in two of the three species considered. Moreover, we found that Tb, whole-animal EWL and whole-animal SMR increased with increasing Ta, while Tb increased with increasing Mb in A. delalandii and S. capensis but not in X. laevis. Whole-animal SMR increased with increasing Mb in S. capensis only. We did not find any significant effect of VPD, Mb or sex on whole-animal EWL within species. Lastly, Mb did not influence Tb, whole-animal SMR and EWL in the principally aquatic X. laevis. These results suggest that Mb may not have the same effect on key physiological variables, and that the influence of Mb may also depend on the species ecological specialisation. Thus, the generality of Mb as an important factor should be taken in the context of both physiology and species habitat specialisation.

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.

Status signalling, metabolic rate and body mass in the siskin: the cost of being a subordinate

2000 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Carlos Senar ◽  
Vicente Polo ◽  
Francesc Uribe ◽  
Montse Camerino
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Rate ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Status Signalling ◽  
The Cost

Metabolism and evaporative water loss of Western Australian geckos (Reptilia : Sauria : Gekkonomorpha)

2000 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 111 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. C. Withers ◽  
K. P. Aplin ◽  
Y. L. Werner
Keyword(s):  
Linear Regression ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Water Loss ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Resting Metabolic Rate ◽  
Evaporative Water Loss ◽  
Evaporative Water ◽  
Regression Residuals ◽  
Western Australian

Resting metabolic rate (RMR) and evaporative water loss (EWL) were measured, and resistance (R) to evaporative water loss and water use index (WUI = EWL/RMR) were calculated, for 22 species of Western Australian gecko. For all available gecko data, body mass and temperature explained 85% of the variability in RMR (=14.5 mass0.833 100.0398 Ta µL h–1), and 70% of the variability in EWL (=0.126 mass0.539 100.049 Ta mg h–1 ). For Western Australian geckos, RMR and EWL were significantly influenced by body mass, using conventional regression and phylogenetic analyses. Resistance to evaporative water loss (R) was not significantly affected by body mass. Water use index was inversely related to body mass: WUI = 21.9 M–0.344 mg mL O2–1. There were significant differences between species for R and for standardised residuals of RMR, EWL and WUI. R was not correlated with phylogeny, and was significantly higher (P = 0.020) for saxicolous geckos (1467 s cm-1) than terrestrial geckos (797 s cm–1); arboreal geckos had an intermediate R (977 s cm–1). Species that ate termites had lower standardised linear regression residuals (P = 0.003) for RMR than did species that ate more general diets. Standardised residuals for EWL were almost significantly related to microhabitat (P = 0.053). Standardised residuals for WUI were significantly related to microhabitat (P = 0.016); saxicolous species had lower WUI than terrestrial species. Standardised linear regression residuals of the residuals from autoregression (which should be independent of both mass and phylogeny effects) still significantly correlated RMR and diet, but not EWL or WUI with microhabitat.

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