Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/3837
Title: Developmental thermoenergetics of the dasyurid marsupial 'Antechinus stuartii'
Contributor(s): Westman, Wendy (author); Koertner, Gerhard  (author)orcid ; Geiser, Fritz  (author)orcid 
Publication Date: 2002
DOI: 10.1644/1545-1542(2002)083<0081:DTOTDM>2.0.CO;2
Handle Link: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/3837
Abstract: Although conception-to-weaning times in dasyurid marsupials are extremely long and neonates very small, little is known about their growth and thermoenergetics. We studied the growth pattern of 'Antechinus stuartii' from birth to after weaning in relation to thermoregulatory capabilities and energetic cost of lactation in the female. Litter size was 1-8 young. Growth rate was slow for age 0-40 days, increased until weaning at about 100 days of age, and then slowed again. At weaning, males were 18% heavier than females (t-test, P<0.001). Energy expenditure of females increased significantly by about 30% during late lactation, compared with early or postlactation. Overall, maternal investment increased with increasing litter size. Total energy expenditure from birth to weaning was 2,373 kJ for small litters (1-3 young) and about 4,580 kJ for large litters (8 young). However, at weaning, young from small litters were about 30% heavier than young from large litters. Ability of young 'A. stuartii' to thermoregulate improved with age. At 60 days age, young were poikilothermic after cold exposure, but by 79 days, physiological thermoregulation was established.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Source of Publication: Journal of Mammalogy, 83(1), p. 81-90
Publisher: American Society of Mammalogists
Place of Publication: United States of America
ISSN: 1545-1542
0022-2372
Fields of Research (FoR) 2008: 060604 Comparative Physiology
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008: 970106 Expanding Knowledge in the Biological Sciences
Peer Reviewed: Yes
HERDC Category Description: C1 Refereed Article in a Scholarly Journal
Appears in Collections:Journal Article
School of Environmental and Rural Science

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