Environmental Correlates of Physiological Variables in Marsupials

Title
Environmental Correlates of Physiological Variables in Marsupials
Publication Date
2006
Author(s)
Withers, Philip
Cooper, Christine Eliza
Larcombe, LN
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
University of Chicago Press
Place of publication
United States of America
DOI
10.1086/501063
UNE publication id
une:8804
Abstract
We analyzed body temperature (Tb), basal metabolic rate (BMR), wet thermal conductance (Cwet), and evaporative water loss (EWL) of marsupials by conventional and phylogenetically corrected regression. Allometric effects were substantial for BMR, Cwet, and EWL but not Tb. There was a strong phylogenetic signal for mass and all physiological traits. A significant phylogenetic signal remained for BMR, Cwet, and EWL even after accounting for the highly significant phylogenetic signal of mass. Tb, BMR, Cwet, and EWL allometric residuals were correlated with some diet, distribution, and climatic variables before and after correction for phylogeny. Tb residuals were higher for marsupials from arid environments (high Ta and more variable rainfall). The fossorial marsupial mole had a lower-than-expected Tb residual. The allometric slope for BMR was 0.72-0.75. Residuals were consistently related to distribution aridity and rainfall variability, with species from arid and variable rainfall habitats having a low BMR, presumably to conserve energy in a low-productivity environment. The nectarivorous honey possum had a higher-than-expected BMR. For Cwet, the allometric slope was 0.55-0.62; residuals were related to diet, with folivores having low and insectivores high Cwet residuals. The allometric slope for EWL was 0.68-0.73. EWL residuals were consistently correlated with rainfall variability, presumably facilitating maintenance of water balance during dry periods.
Link
Citation
Physiological and Biochemical Zoology, 79(3), p. 437-452
ISSN
1537-5293
1522-2152
Start page
437
End page
452

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