title: Variation in temperature increases the cost of living in birds.
abstract: The effect of temperature variability on laying birds was studied experimentally, using Japanese quail. Two aspects of temperature variability were investigated: the effects of regular daily variation in temperature, and of a sudden change in temperature. Both of these may become more common as a consequence of climate change. These manipulations were carried out at two levels of food supply. Energy expenditure increased with higher daily temperature variation, and also after a sudden change in temperature, taking several days to settle to a constant level. Manipulating daily temperature variation also resulted in smaller eggs being laid under more variable temperatures, when food quality was also low. The results demonstrate that day-to-day variation in temperature, as well as mean temperature, affects energy expenditure, which can have consequences for egg production.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, Scotland. cjp2@stir.ac.uk
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Pendlebury
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: MacLeod
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Bryant
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002151:Calorimetry; D003370:Coturnix / Q000502:physiology*; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D010063:Ovum / Q000502:physiology; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013696:Temperature