Mass and energy budgets of animals: Behavioral and ecological implications: Progress report for period December 1, 1986-July 1987
The vacuum gas-analysis system is running and we use doubly labeled water routinely in our research. We have the computer-controlled respirometer system running, and can routinely measure respiratory gases and body temperatures in small, living mammals. Our heat- and mass-balance model calculations of field metabolism and water loss agree exceptionally well with doubly labeled water measurements of the field metabolism and water loss for Sceloporus undulatus in the sandhill country of western Nebraska. We established theoretical links between our biophysical models of individual animals and population dynamics and community models in the literature. Our general, dry, porous-media model works for bird feathers as well as fur. Now heat and mass fluxes for any endotherm in any physical environment can be calculated with accuracy knowing only allometry, insulation properties, core or skin temperature and environmental conditions. We developed a general respiratory water-loss model using a coupled molar and heat balance. We developed a general counter-current heat exchange model with a peripheral heat generation and iterative skin temperature solution. We are testing our endotherm model on four species of temperate and tropical birds. We are completing parameter measurements for a test of the ectotherm model on an herbivorous lizard, like the test described above for the carnivorous lizard, Sceloporus undulatus. We have begun lab and field studies of the energetic costs of parasitism and climate on a small endotherm (using tapeworm infection of white-footed mice, Peromyscus leucopus). 8 figs.
- Research Organization:
- Wisconsin Univ., Madison (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-76EV02270
- OSTI ID:
- 6175814
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/EV/02270-15; ON: DE87012751
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
BIRDS
POPULATION DYNAMICS
REPRODUCTION
BODY TEMPERATURE
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
LIZARDS
METABOLISM
PHYSIOLOGY
RODENTS
WILD ANIMALS
ENERGY BUDGETS
BIOLOGICAL STRESS
COMMUNITIES
PARASITIC DISEASES
RESPIRATION
TRACER TECHNIQUES
ANIMALS
DISEASES
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
MAMMALS
REPTILES
VERTEBRATES
510101* - Environment
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550501 - Metabolism- Tracer Techniques
550901 - Pathology- Tracer Techniques