From doubly labelled water to half-life; validating radio-isotopic rubidium turnover to measure metabolism in small vertebrates

The doubly labelled water method (DLW) is widely used to measure field metabolic rate (FMR), but it has some limitations. Here, we validate an innovative technique for measuring FMR by comparing the turnover of isotopic rubidium (86Rb kb) with DLW depletion and the rate of CO2 production (V·co2) measured by flow-through respirometry (FTR) for two dunnart species (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae), Sminthopsis macroura (17 g) and Sminthopsis ooldea (10 g). The rate of metabolism as assessed by V·co2 (FTR) and 86Rb kb was significantly correlated for both species (S. macroura, r2 = 0·81, P = 1·19 × 10-5; S. ooldea, r2 = 0·63, P = 3·84 × 10-4), as was V·co2 from FTR and DLW for S. macroura (r2 = 0·43, P = 0·039), but not for S. ooldea (r2 = 0·29, P = 0·168). There was no relationship between V·co2 from DLW and 86Rb kb for either species (S. macroura r2 = 0·22, P = 0·169; S. ooldea r2 = 0·21, P = 0·253). We conclude that 86Rb kb provided useful estimates of metabolic rate for dunnarts. Meta-analysis provided different linear relationships between V·co2 and 86Rb kb for endotherms and ectotherms, suggesting different proportionalities between metabolic rate and 86Rb kb for different taxa. Understanding the mechanistic basis for this correlation might provide useful insights into the cause of these taxonomic differences in the proportionality. At present, it is essential that the relationship between metabolic rate and 86Rb kb be validated for each taxon of interest. The advantages of the 86Rb technique over DLW include lower equipment requirements and technical expertise, and the longer time span over which measurements can be made. The 86Rb method might be particularly useful for estimating FMR of groups for which the assumptions of the DLW technique are compromised (e.g. amphibians, diving species and fossorial species), and groups that are practically challenging for DLW studies (e.g. insects). © 2013 British Ecological Society.

Planejamento da expansão de sistemas de transmissão considerando a retirada de linhas de transmissão

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Prevalência de hemogregarina em arraias de água doce (Potamotrygonidae) da região norte, com descrição de uma nova espécie de gênero

Pós-graduação em Biologia Geral e Aplicada - IBB

Estudo experimental da interação fluido-estrutura em um modelo de válvula de compressor de refrigeração

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Mecânica - FEIS

Estudo experimental da interação fluido-estrutura no escoamento em um difusor radial

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Mecânica - FEIS

Modelagem numérica do escoamento em válvulas automáticas de compressores pelo Método da Fronteira Imersa

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Investigação numérica e experimental do escoamento em válvulas de compressores herméticos

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Mecânica - FEIS

Simulação do escoamento bifásico da mistura óleo-refrigerante através da folga radial de compressores rotativos de pistão rolante

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Modelagem do escoamento ao longo de evaporadores de serpentina com tubos aletados

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Análise numérica de evaporadores do tipo Roll-Bond usados em refrigeradores domésticos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Otimização e estudo do comportamento do solo-cimento auto-adensável

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Estudo de fibras ópticas para aplicação de laser Er3+:YAG em endodontia

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Análise do escoamento turbulento por um queimador industrial a gás utilizando dinâmica dos fluidos computacional

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Mecânica - FEG

Effect of Water Exchange and Mechanical Aeration on Grow-out of the Amazon River Prawn in Ponds

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Precipitação e aporte de nutrientes em diferentes estádios sucessionais de Floresta Atlântica, Pinheiral - RJ

Forest cover has importance within the context of the water balance of a particular site and may alter the mechanism of entry of water and nutrients to the soil surface. The aim of this study was to quantify the net precipitation, interception, addition of nutrients in throughfall and stem flow in a forest in different stages of regeneration of Mata Atlantica: early-stage secondary forest (ESSF), intermediary stage secondary forest (ISSF) and advanced stage secondary forest (AESF). The study was conducted in Pinheiral, Rio de Janeiro state. The data collection was performed during the period of April 2009 to March 2010. The values of incident precipitation, effective precipitation and interception were similar among the three stages evaluated. The AESF area showed higher values of Mg and P in the addition of nutrients from throughfall compared with other areas assessed. The pH of the precipitation incident did not differ among areas, but was higher than the pH of rainfall. The three areas evaluated showed no difference in the addition of nutrients to flow through the trunk. The AESF area showed a trend of higher levels of addition of nutrients from throughfall precipitation and runoff from stemflow.