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Fundamental energetics of birds: 1. The maximum ability of birds to change their thermal conductance and the efficiency of metabolic energy transformation into mechanical work

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Abstract

The maximum abilities of birds to dissipate heat with an increase in their metabolic rate as a result of both activity and heat stress have been estimated by an integrated measurement of energy expenditure at rest (measured according to oxygen consumption) and common activity, the so-called existence metabolism (measured according to food consumption) in 26 passerine species, covering the overall order relative to the size range (from goldcrest to raven) and 16 nonpasserine species of the same size range (25–4000 g). The passerine and nonpasserine species do not differ in the mean change of heat loss in the cases of both maximal (h min) and minimal (h max) insulations. Both the minimal (h min) and maximal (h max) nonevaporative heat losses in both groups of species display similar dependences on the body weight, and the regression slopes for both h min and h max are equal. On the other hand, h max is approximately fourfold higher as compared with h min. This demonstrates that birds at the same ambient temperature (T A) are able to increase fourfold the amount of dissipated heat losses without increasing their evaporative heat loss. An increase in the h max/h min ratio suggests a more perfect organization of the systems associated with blood circulation and respiration, which naturally gives great advantages for any life activities, first and foremost, allowing for an increase in activity. The efficiency of metabolic energy transformation into mechanical work during standard existence varies in the studied species from 0.28 to 0.22 in summer and in winter.

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  1. Zvenigorod Biological Station, Moscow State University, Moscow, 119992, Russia

    V. M. Gavrilov

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Correspondence to V. M. Gavrilov.

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Original Russian Text © V.M. Gavrilov, 2011, published in Zoologicheskii Zhurnal, 2011, No. 12, pp. 1411–1412.

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Gavrilov, V.M. Fundamental energetics of birds: 1. The maximum ability of birds to change their thermal conductance and the efficiency of metabolic energy transformation into mechanical work. Biol Bull Russ Acad Sci 39, 569–578 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1062359012070047

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