Seasonal differences in resting metabolic rate of Alaskan ptarmigan

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Abstract

  • 1.

    1. The resting metabolic rates at thermal neutrality of willow ptarmigan acclimatized to summer and winter and of rock ptarmigan acclimatized to winter of 78·84, 70·50 and 70·84 kcal/bird per day respectively, are all higher than predicted by several body weight-metabolic rate equations.

  • 2.

    2. The slope of the metabolic rate-ambient temperature line below thermal neutrality was steeper in summer than in winter in willow ptarmigan. The critical temperature of summer birds was 7·7°C and of winter birds, -6·3°C, lower than for any bird species thus far tested.

  • 3.

    3. The slope of the metabolic rate-ambient temperature line below thermal neutrality for winter rock ptarmigan was similar to that of winter willow ptarmigan and the critical temperature was -1·3°C.

  • 4.

    4. Alaska willow and rock ptarmigan are capable of maintaining their normal body temperature at any ambient temperature which they might encounter in arctic Alaska by a combination of excellent insulation and adequate metabolic capacity.

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Address until 1 September 1972: Max-Planck-Institut für Verhaltensphysiologie, Abteilung Aschoff, 8131 Erling-Andechs, Germany.

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