title: Metabolic rate and specific dynamic action of the Red-legged Honeycreeper, a nectar-feeding Neotropical passerine.
abstract: Rate of oxygen consumption (VO(2)) and carbon dioxide production (VCO(2)) were measured in the Red-legged Honeycreeper (Cyanerpes cyaneus, mean body mass 14.0+/-0.1g) at ambient temperatures (T(a)) between 15 degrees C and 35 degrees C to determine the basal metabolic rate (BMR). VO(2) in response to the light-dark cycle and the specific dynamic action (SDA) effect was also investigated. BMR was estimated to be 2.mLO(2) g(-1)h(-1), 10% lower than expected according to the Aschoff-Pohl relationship for passerines and 12% higher than expected following Mckechnie and Wolf's (2004) equation. Below 25 degrees C, VO(2) was linearly related to T(a). Body temperature averaged 40.2 degrees C and was not affected by T(a) over the range of temperature tested. The SDA was demonstrated at 20 degrees C by a two fold increase in VO(2) compared to pre-feeding levels. The honeycreepers showed a marked light-dark VO(2) cycle, with a mean reduction of 46% at night. During the night, birds rely on their body reserves as deduced from the respiratory quotient (RQ) values. Honeycreepers show a metabolic rate higher than predicted by allometry, marked diel fluctuations in their metabolic rates and a moderate SDA effect despite of the simplicity of nectar as food.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Biología de Organismos, Centro de Ecología, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas (IVIC) Apdo. 20632, Caracas 1020-A, Venezuela. amata@ivic.gob.ve
authors.forename: Astolfo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mata
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001481:Basal Metabolism; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology*; D046109:Passeriformes / Q000502:physiology*; D057048:Plant Nectar
chemical_list: D057048:Plant Nectar; D002245:Carbon Dioxide