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Long-term repeatability of winter basal metabolic rate and mass in a wild passerine

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Author

Summary, in English

P>Basal metabolic rate (BMR) is an important trait in the study of energy management of an individual, especially in small wintering passerines from the north which have one of the highest energy turnover rates in vertebrates. Laboratory studies have shown the trait to be repeatable and heritable, despite its plastic nature. However there is currently a lack of empirical data from wild passerine populations. We studied within- and between-year repeatability of BMR, body mass and mass-independent BMR from two populations of wintering great tits (Parus major) at the northern range of their distribution. We found body mass, BMR and mass-independent BMR to be highly repeatable both within and between years. Our results provide the first evidence from a wild small passerine that, despite a large environmentally induced variation in metabolic rate, individuals show consistent metabolic strategies over periods even longer than a year. Homeotherm species exposed to new or changing environmental conditions may be able to evolve specific energetic strategies in the wild, as previously found in captive species.

Publishing year

2009

Language

English

Pages

768-773

Publication/Series

Functional Ecology

Volume

23

Issue

4

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell

Topic

  • Biological Sciences

Keywords

  • winter energetics
  • Parus major
  • ecological physiology
  • BMR
  • great tit

Status

Published

Research group

  • Life History and Functional Ecology

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1365-2435