The energy costs of temperature regulation in birds: the influence of quick sinusoidal temperature fluctuations on the gaseous metabolism of the Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica).
1. Quick sinusoidal temperature fluctuations (constant average 10 degrees C) cause an increase in metabolism in comparison to an invariable constant ambient temperature of the same dimension. 2. At the observed mean value of 10 degrees C metabolism is increased by 0.8% per 1 K/hr based on the values of resting metabolic rate (correlation: M = 53.5 + 0.445 Ta, M in J/K g hr, Ta = ambient temperature change in K/hr) and 0.6% based on the values of activity metabolism (M = 70.4 + 0.425 Ta). 3. The absolute augmentation of metabolism per 1K/hr is, by comparison, the same for day and night. Its amount is 0.42 and 0.43 J/K g hr respectively. 4. In the response of metabolism to temperature fluctuations no differences could be found with respect to the amplitude and frequency modifications of temperature. 5. The increase of energy consumption is probably caused to a greater extent by "overshoot" of the feedback control system in the course of adjusting metabolism to new levels according to the ambient temperature conditions. 6. Short term ambient temperature changes (i.e. measuring different temperature levels in one night to test basic metabolism vs ambient temperature) cannot produce reasonable values for basic metabolic rate, since these artificially high values reflect the testing procedure.
D000818:Animals; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003370:Coturnix; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D013696:Temperature