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Facultative hypothermic responses in an Afrotropical arid-zone passerine, the red-headed finch (Amadina erythrocephala)

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Abstract

We investigated thermoregulation and facultative hypothermic responses to food deprivation in the red-headed finch (Amadina erythrocephala), a 22-g passerine endemic to the arid regions of southern Africa. We predicted that, like most other passerines investigated, A. erythrocephala exhibits shallow rest-phase hypothermia, but not torpor. We observed significant reductions in rest-phase energy expenditure and body temperature (T b) in response to restricted feeding. The maximum extent of T b reduction (ca. 5 °C) and energy savings (ca. 10%) were consistent with those reported for a number of other passerine species. The lowest T b we observed in a bird able to arouse spontaneously was 34.8 °C. The parameters of facultative hypothermic responses in A. erythrocephala were indicative of shallow rest-phase hypothermia, but not torpor. The limited available data on hypothermic responses in passerines suggest that many species do not possess the capacity for torpor. In passerines, torpor appears to be restricted to a few nectarivores and aerial insectarivores, and may have evolved independently of the torpor observed in non-passerine taxa such as the Trochiliformes and Caprimulgidae. The basal metabolic rate (BMR) of A. erythrocephala was 30–46% lower than predicted by various allometric equations, but was similar to the predicted BMR for a 22-g desert bird.

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Fig. 1A–C.
Fig. 2A–D.
Fig. 3.

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Abbreviations

BMR :

basal metabolic rate

C:

thermal conductance

M b :

body mass

ρT b min :

minimum rest phase body temperature

\(\rho \dot V{\rm{O}}_{\rm{2}} min\) :

minimum rest phase oxygen consumption

T a :

ambient temperature

T b :

body temperature

\(\dot V{\rm{CO}}_{\rm{2}} \) :

carbon dioxide production

\(\dot V{\rm{O}}_{\rm{2}} \) :

oxygen consumption

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the contribution made by De Beers Consolidated Mining, who granted permission for red-headed finches to be trapped on Benfontein. We also thank Rita Covas and her assistants for their hospitality while staying at Benfontein, and for help in trapping the finches. This study was funded by National Research Foundation and University of Natal Research Fund grants to BGL. The experiments performed in this study were approved by the University of Natal Animal Ethics Sub-committee and comply with current South African laws.

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  1. A. E. McKechnie

    Present address: Department of Biology, 167 Castetter Hall, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-1091, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Botany and Zoology, University of Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa

    A. E. McKechnie & B. G. Lovegrove

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  1. A. E. McKechnie
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  2. B. G. Lovegrove
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Correspondence to A. E. McKechnie.

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Communicated by L.C.-H. Wang

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McKechnie, A.E., Lovegrove, B.G. Facultative hypothermic responses in an Afrotropical arid-zone passerine, the red-headed finch (Amadina erythrocephala). J Comp Physiol B 173, 339–346 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00360-003-0341-0

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