Testing the heat dissipation limit theory in a breeding passerine
(2018) In Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 285(1878).- Abstract
- The maximum work rate of animals has recently been suggested to be determined by the rate at which excess metabolic heat generated during work can be dissipated (heat dissipation limitation (HDL) theory). As a first step towards testing this theory in wild animals, we experimentally manipulated brood size in breeding marsh tits (Poecile palustris) to change their work rate. Parents feeding nestlings generally operated at above-normal body temperatures. Body temperature in both males and females increased with maximum ambient temperature and with manipulated work rate, sometimes even exceeding 45°C, which is close to suggested lethal levels for birds. Such high body temperatures have previously only been described for birds living in hot... (More)
- The maximum work rate of animals has recently been suggested to be determined by the rate at which excess metabolic heat generated during work can be dissipated (heat dissipation limitation (HDL) theory). As a first step towards testing this theory in wild animals, we experimentally manipulated brood size in breeding marsh tits (Poecile palustris) to change their work rate. Parents feeding nestlings generally operated at above-normal body temperatures. Body temperature in both males and females increased with maximum ambient temperature and with manipulated work rate, sometimes even exceeding 45°C, which is close to suggested lethal levels for birds. Such high body temperatures have previously only been described for birds living in hot and arid regions. Thus, reproductive effort in marsh tits may potentially be limited by the rate of heat dissipation. Females had lower body temperatures, a possible consequence of their brood patch serving as a thermal window facilitating heat dissipation. Because increasing body temperatures are connected to somatic costs, we suggest that the HDL theory may constitute a possible mediator of the trade-off between current and future reproduction. It follows that globally increasing, more stochastic, ambient temperatures may restrict the capacity for sustained work of animals in the future. (Less)
- Abstract (Swedish)
- The maximum work rate of animals has recently been suggested to be determined by the rate at which excess metabolic heat generated during work can be dissipated (heat dissipation limitation (HDL) theory). As a first step towards testing this theory in wild animals, we experimentally manipulated brood size in breeding marsh tits (Poecile palustris) to change their work rate. Parents feeding nestlings generally operated at above-normal body temperatures. Body temperature in both males and females increased with maximum ambient temperature and with manipulated work rate, sometimes even exceeding 45°C, which is close to suggested lethal levels for birds. Such high body temperatures have previously only been described for birds living in hot... (More)
- The maximum work rate of animals has recently been suggested to be determined by the rate at which excess metabolic heat generated during work can be dissipated (heat dissipation limitation (HDL) theory). As a first step towards testing this theory in wild animals, we experimentally manipulated brood size in breeding marsh tits (Poecile palustris) to change their work rate. Parents feeding nestlings generally operated at above-normal body temperatures. Body temperature in both males and females increased with maximum ambient temperature and with manipulated work rate, sometimes even exceeding 45°C, which is close to suggested lethal levels for birds. Such high body temperatures have previously only been described for birds living in hot and arid regions. Thus, reproductive effort in marsh tits may potentially be limited by the rate of heat dissipation. Females had lower body temperatures, a possible consequence of their brood patch serving as a thermal window facilitating heat dissipation. Because increasing body temperatures are connected to somatic costs, we suggest that the HDL theory may constitute a possible mediator of the trade-off between current and future reproduction. It follows that globally increasing, more stochastic, ambient temperatures may restrict the capacity for sustained work of animals in the future. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/bb38d880-2c08-4a5a-9ffe-ad76cb291972
- author
- Nilsson, Jan-Åke LU and Nord, Andreas LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2018
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Body Temperature, heat dissipation, hyperthermia, heterothermy, life history, reproductive investment, bird, body temperature, heat dissipation, hyperthermia, maximum work rate, parental effort, reproductive cost
- in
- Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
- volume
- 285
- issue
- 1878
- article number
- 20180652
- pages
- 7 pages
- publisher
- Royal Society Publishing
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:29769365
- scopus:85047145718
- ISSN
- 1471-2954
- DOI
- 10.1098/rspb.2018.0652
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- bb38d880-2c08-4a5a-9ffe-ad76cb291972
- date added to LUP
- 2018-05-16 13:47:27
- date last changed
- 2024-03-18 09:33:53
@article{bb38d880-2c08-4a5a-9ffe-ad76cb291972,
abstract = {{The maximum work rate of animals has recently been suggested to be determined by the rate at which excess metabolic heat generated during work can be dissipated (heat dissipation limitation (HDL) theory). As a first step towards testing this theory in wild animals, we experimentally manipulated brood size in breeding marsh tits (Poecile palustris) to change their work rate. Parents feeding nestlings generally operated at above-normal body temperatures. Body temperature in both males and females increased with maximum ambient temperature and with manipulated work rate, sometimes even exceeding 45°C, which is close to suggested lethal levels for birds. Such high body temperatures have previously only been described for birds living in hot and arid regions. Thus, reproductive effort in marsh tits may potentially be limited by the rate of heat dissipation. Females had lower body temperatures, a possible consequence of their brood patch serving as a thermal window facilitating heat dissipation. Because increasing body temperatures are connected to somatic costs, we suggest that the HDL theory may constitute a possible mediator of the trade-off between current and future reproduction. It follows that globally increasing, more stochastic, ambient temperatures may restrict the capacity for sustained work of animals in the future.}},
author = {{Nilsson, Jan-Åke and Nord, Andreas}},
issn = {{1471-2954}},
keywords = {{Body Temperature; heat dissipation; hyperthermia; heterothermy; life history; reproductive investment; bird; body temperature; heat dissipation; hyperthermia; maximum work rate; parental effort; reproductive cost}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{1878}},
publisher = {{Royal Society Publishing}},
series = {{Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences}},
title = {{Testing the heat dissipation limit theory in a breeding passerine}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2018.0652}},
doi = {{10.1098/rspb.2018.0652}},
volume = {{285}},
year = {{2018}},
}