title: Metabolic rate and evaporative water loss in the silky starling (Sturnus sericeus).
abstract: To better understand the physiological characteristics of the silky starling (Sturnus sericeus), its body temperature (Tb), basal metabolic rate (BMR), evaporative water loss (EWL) and thermal conductance (C) elicited by different ambient temperatures (Ta) (5-30 ℃) were determined in the present study. Our results showed that they have a high Tb (41.6 ± 0.1 ℃), a wide thermal neutral zone (TNZ) (20-27.5℃) and a relatively low BMR within the TNZ (3.37 ± 0.17 mL O₂/g·h). The EWL was nearly stable below the TNZ (0.91 ± 0.07 mg H₂O/g·h) but increased remarkably within and above the TNZ. The C was constant below the TNZ, with a minimum value of 0.14 ± 0.01 mL O₂/g·h·℃. These findings indicate that the BMR, Tb and EWL of the silky starling were all affected by Ta, especially when Ta was below 20 ℃ and the EWL plays an important role in thermal regulation.
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China.
authors.forename: Huan-Huan
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.affiliation: College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China.
authors.forename: Qing-Jian
authors.initials: QJ
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China.
authors.forename: Hong-Lei
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Qiu
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China.
authors.forename: Wei-Hong
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China. ljs@wzu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jin-Song
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature; D001835:Body Weight; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D046109:Passeriformes / Q000502:physiology*; D014870:Water Loss, Insensible / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Basal metabolic rate; Body temperature; Evaporative water loss; Silky starling (Sturnus sericeus)