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Cited by 806Physiological and biochemical adaptationsAnimal Ecology and Behavior StudiesEvolution and Paleontology Studies

ENERGETICS OF FREE-RANGING MAMMALS, REPTILES, AND BIRDS

Nagy, K. A., Girard, I. A., Brown, T. K.·1999·Annual Review of Nutrition
DOI 10.1146/annurev.nutr.19.1.247
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Abstract

▪ Abstract We summarize the recent information on field metabolic rates (FMR) of wild terrestrial vertebrates as determined by the doubly labeled water technique. Allometric (scaling) relationships are calculated for mammals (79 species), reptiles (55 species), and birds (95 species) and for various taxonomic, dietary, and habitat groups within these categories. Exponential equations based on body mass are offered for predicting rates of daily energy expenditure and daily food requirements of free-ranging mammals, reptiles, and birds. Significant scaling differences between various taxa, dietary, and habitat groups (detected by analysis of covariance with P ≤ 0.05) include the following: (a) The allometric slope for reptiles (0.889) is greater than that for mammals (0.734), which is greater than that for birds (0.681); (b) the slope for eutherian mammals (0.772) is greater than that for marsupial mammals (0.590); (c) among families of birds, slopes do not differ but elevations (intercepts) do, with passerine and procellariid birds having relatively high FMRs and gallinaceous birds having low FMRs; (d) Scleroglossan lizards have a higher slope (0.949) than do Iguanian lizards (0.793); (e) desert mammals have a higher slope (0.785) than do nondesert mammals; (f) marine birds have relatively high FMRs and desert birds have low FMRs; and (g) carnivorous mammals have a relatively high slope and carnivorous, insectivorous, and nectarivorous birds have relatively higher FMRs than do omnivores and granivores. The difference detected between passerine and nonpasserine birds reported in earlier reviews is not evident in the larger data set analyzed here. When the results are adjusted for phylogenetic effects using independent contrasts analysis, the difference between allometric slopes for marsupials and eutherians is no longer significant and the slope difference between Scleroglossan and Iguanian lizards disappears as well, but other taxonomic differences remain significant. Possible causes of the unexplained variations in FMR that could improve our currently inaccurate FMR prediction capabilities should be evaluated, including many important groups of terrestrial vertebrates that remain under- or unstudied and such factors as reproductive, thermoregulatory, social, and predator-avoidance behavior.

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  • Because the train is produced over about six months, its production cost is estimated at 96.3 kJ per day, about 10% of basal metabolic rate and 3% of field metabolic rate.

    “The train is produced over ~6 months (M.Caunce, personal communication), such that the train production costs are estimated to be 96.3 kJ day -1 , representing ~10% of basal metabolic rate [947 kJ day -1 (Lasiewski and Dawson, 1967)] and 3% of field metabolic rate [2805 kJ day -1 , estimated from a scaling equation for Galliformes (Nagy et al., 1999)].”

    From The elaborate plumage in peacocks is not such a drag (2014) · cites this paper as Nagy et al., 1999

  • MMR_e scales with an exponent greater than RMR_pp, FMR, RMR_t, BMR, and SMR.

    “MMR e (b=0.87±0.05;Fig. •6A) scales with an exponent greater than RMR pp (b=0.75±0.03;Fig. •3), FMR (b=0.73±0.04;Nagy et al., 1999), RMR t (b=0.712±0.013;Savage et al., 2004), BMR (b=0.686±0.014;Fig. •4) and SMR (b=0.675±0.013;Fig. •5).”

    From Allometric scaling of mammalian metabolism (2005) · cites this paper as Nagy et al., 1999

  • FMR scales with exponent 0.73±0.04.

    “FMR (b=0.73±0.04;Nagy et al., 1999)”

    From Allometric scaling of mammalian metabolism (2005) · cites this paper as Nagy et al., 1999

  • Several comparative studies have suggested a continuum of energy-use strategies among mammals, from high-energy throughput to low, with each species' strategy contingent upon the particular dynamics of food availability and mortality risk it faces.

    “Indeed, several comparative studies have suggested a continuum of energy-use strategies among mammals, from high-energy throughput to low, with each species’ strategy contingent upon the particular dynamics of food availability and mortality risk it faces (1, 4–6).”

    From Metabolic adaptation for low energy throughput in orangutans. (2010) · cites this paper as [1]

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Authors
Nagy, K. A., Girard, I. A., & Brown, T. K.
Affiliations
University of California, Los Angeles (US)
Venue
Annual Review of Nutrition
Publisher
Annual Reviews
Published
1999-07
Volume
19
Issue
1
Pages
247-277
ISSN
  • 0199-9885 (ISSN-L)
  • 1545-4312
DOI
10.1146/annurev.nutr.19.1.247
OpenAlex
W2108388244
Cited by
806
References
168
Citations by year
2026: 15 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 26 · 2023: 28 · 2022: 28 · 2021: 37 · 2020: 35 · 2019: 30 · 2018: 24 · 2017: 27 · 2016: 26 · 2015: 36 · 2014: 47 · 2013: 24 · 2012: 37
FWCI
3.23
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Annual Review of Nutrition (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Physiological and biochemical adaptations
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Evolution and Paleontology Studies
Keywords
field metabolic rate, daily energy expenditure, allometric scaling, mammals, reptiles, birds, food requirements, phylogenetic correction, independent contrasts, marsupials, placental mammals, lizards, Passeriformes, desert mammals, seabirds, diet and metabolism, energy balance, doubly labeled water, energy expenditure prediction equations, thermoregulation
MeSH terms
Animals, Basal Metabolism, Birds, Diet, Energy Metabolism, Environment, Mammals, Nutritional Requirements, Phylogeny, Reptiles, Seasons, Species Specificity

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