Abstract
1. The energy budgets of lactating and non-reproductive female Brown Long-Eared Bats fed primarily on noctuid moths (approximate to 27.2 kJ g(-1)) were constructed and compared in flight enclosures in captivity.
2. The average dry food consumption of non-reproductive individuals was 1.8 g bat(-1) day(-1) (gross energy intake = 48 kJ day(-1)). The average food consumption throughout days 10-35 of lactation was 2.0 g bat(-1) day(-1) (gross energy intake = 53 kJ day(-1)). Lactating females obtained six times more energy from increased food consumption than from mobilization of fat stores, compared with non-reproductive bats.
3. Milk export, calculated using the difference in water turnover between lactating and non-reproductive bats (measured using H-2 turnover) averaged 2.6 ml bat(-1) day(-1) (22.9 kJ day(-1)). This was similar to the average milk intake of sucklings estimated from H-3 turnover (22.9 kJ day(-1)).
4. Energy available for respiration from food and mobilization of fat stores was 18.2 kJ day(-1) for lactating females compared with 36.8 kJ day(-1) for non-reproductive females. In comparison, respiratory daily energy expenditure (DEE) of lactating and non-reproductive bats, measured by doubly labelled water (DLW), was 21.3 kJ day(-1) and 23.6 kJ day(-1), respectively. Hence, there was a discrepancy between respiratory DEE (measured by DLW) and net available energy estimates for non-reproductive bats but not for lactating bats.
5. Respiratory DEE for lactating bats was equal to or less than that of non-reproductive females, suggesting they used compensatory mechanisms in their energy budgets in lactation.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 360-372 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Functional Ecology |
| Volume | 13 |
| Publication status | Published - 1999 |
Keywords
- doubly labelled water
- food intake
- milk
- reproduction
- tritium
- EPTESICUS-FUSCUS CHIROPTERA
- SUSTAINED METABOLIC-RATE
- DOUBLY LABELED WATER
- MYOTIS-LUCIFUGUS
- SIGMODON-HISPIDUS
- FEEDING STRATEGIES
- INSECTIVOROUS BATS
- FORAGING BEHAVIOR
- LASIURUS-CINEREUS
- NORTHERN BORDERS
Cite this
Energy budgets of lactating and non-reproductive Brown Long-Eared Bats (Plecotus auritus) suggest females use compensation in lactation. / Mclean, J A ; Speakman, J R .
In: Functional Ecology, Vol. 13, 1999, p. 360-372.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Energy budgets of lactating and non-reproductive Brown Long-Eared Bats (Plecotus auritus) suggest females use compensation in lactation
AU - Mclean, J A
AU - Speakman, J R
PY - 1999
Y1 - 1999
N2 - 1. The energy budgets of lactating and non-reproductive female Brown Long-Eared Bats fed primarily on noctuid moths (approximate to 27.2 kJ g(-1)) were constructed and compared in flight enclosures in captivity.2. The average dry food consumption of non-reproductive individuals was 1.8 g bat(-1) day(-1) (gross energy intake = 48 kJ day(-1)). The average food consumption throughout days 10-35 of lactation was 2.0 g bat(-1) day(-1) (gross energy intake = 53 kJ day(-1)). Lactating females obtained six times more energy from increased food consumption than from mobilization of fat stores, compared with non-reproductive bats.3. Milk export, calculated using the difference in water turnover between lactating and non-reproductive bats (measured using H-2 turnover) averaged 2.6 ml bat(-1) day(-1) (22.9 kJ day(-1)). This was similar to the average milk intake of sucklings estimated from H-3 turnover (22.9 kJ day(-1)).4. Energy available for respiration from food and mobilization of fat stores was 18.2 kJ day(-1) for lactating females compared with 36.8 kJ day(-1) for non-reproductive females. In comparison, respiratory daily energy expenditure (DEE) of lactating and non-reproductive bats, measured by doubly labelled water (DLW), was 21.3 kJ day(-1) and 23.6 kJ day(-1), respectively. Hence, there was a discrepancy between respiratory DEE (measured by DLW) and net available energy estimates for non-reproductive bats but not for lactating bats.5. Respiratory DEE for lactating bats was equal to or less than that of non-reproductive females, suggesting they used compensatory mechanisms in their energy budgets in lactation.
AB - 1. The energy budgets of lactating and non-reproductive female Brown Long-Eared Bats fed primarily on noctuid moths (approximate to 27.2 kJ g(-1)) were constructed and compared in flight enclosures in captivity.2. The average dry food consumption of non-reproductive individuals was 1.8 g bat(-1) day(-1) (gross energy intake = 48 kJ day(-1)). The average food consumption throughout days 10-35 of lactation was 2.0 g bat(-1) day(-1) (gross energy intake = 53 kJ day(-1)). Lactating females obtained six times more energy from increased food consumption than from mobilization of fat stores, compared with non-reproductive bats.3. Milk export, calculated using the difference in water turnover between lactating and non-reproductive bats (measured using H-2 turnover) averaged 2.6 ml bat(-1) day(-1) (22.9 kJ day(-1)). This was similar to the average milk intake of sucklings estimated from H-3 turnover (22.9 kJ day(-1)).4. Energy available for respiration from food and mobilization of fat stores was 18.2 kJ day(-1) for lactating females compared with 36.8 kJ day(-1) for non-reproductive females. In comparison, respiratory daily energy expenditure (DEE) of lactating and non-reproductive bats, measured by doubly labelled water (DLW), was 21.3 kJ day(-1) and 23.6 kJ day(-1), respectively. Hence, there was a discrepancy between respiratory DEE (measured by DLW) and net available energy estimates for non-reproductive bats but not for lactating bats.5. Respiratory DEE for lactating bats was equal to or less than that of non-reproductive females, suggesting they used compensatory mechanisms in their energy budgets in lactation.
KW - doubly labelled water
KW - food intake
KW - milk
KW - reproduction
KW - tritium
KW - EPTESICUS-FUSCUS CHIROPTERA
KW - SUSTAINED METABOLIC-RATE
KW - DOUBLY LABELED WATER
KW - MYOTIS-LUCIFUGUS
KW - SIGMODON-HISPIDUS
KW - FEEDING STRATEGIES
KW - INSECTIVOROUS BATS
KW - FORAGING BEHAVIOR
KW - LASIURUS-CINEREUS
KW - NORTHERN BORDERS
M3 - Article
VL - 13
SP - 360
EP - 372
JO - Functional Ecology
JF - Functional Ecology
SN - 0269-8463
ER -