Journal Article

Effects of temperature acclimation on body mass and energy budget in the Chinese bulbul Pycnonotus sinensis

Yu-Nan WU Lin LIN Yu-Chao XIAO Li-Meng ZHOU Meng-Si WU Hui-Ying ZHANG Jin-Song LIU

2014

Overview

Chinese bulbuls （Pycnonotus sinensis） are small passerine birds that inhabit areas of central, southern and eastern China. Previous observations suggest that flee-living individuals of this species may change their food intake in response to seasonal changes in ambient temperature. In the present study, we randomly assigned Chinese bulbuls to either a 30 ~C or 10 ~C group, and measured their body mass （BM）, body temperature, gross energy intake （GEl）, digestible energy intake （DEI）, and the length and mass of their digestive tracts over 28 days of acclimation at these temperatures. As predicted, birds in the 30 ℃ group had lower body mass, GEI and DEI relative to those in the 10 ℃ group. The length and mass of the digestive tract was also lower in the 30 ℃ group and trends in these parameters were positively correlated with BM, GEl and DEI. These results suggest that Chinese bulbuls reduced their absolute energy demands at relatively high temperatures by decreasing their body mass, GEI and DEI, and digestive tract size.

• Publisher: Kunming Institute of Zoology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences
• Subject: Acclimatization / Acclimatization - physiology / Ambient temperature / Animal behavior / Animals / Birds / Body mass / Body mass index / Body temperature / Body Weight - physiology / China / Digestion - physiology / Energy Metabolism - physiology / Gastrointestinal Tract - anatomy & histology / Gastrointestinal Tract - physiology / High temperature / Passeriformes - physiology / Pycnonotus / Temperature / Time Factors / Zoology / 中国南部 / 体重 / 温度驯化 / 白头鹎 / 能量平衡 / 能量摄入量 / 雀形目鸟类 / 食物摄入量