Energetic patterns and lifestyle in the Meliphagidae

Abstract

Standard metabolic rates (SMR) of 10 species of Australian honeyeater birds (Passeriformes: Meliphagidae), inhabiting coastal heathland and woodland settings north of Sydney, N.S.W., were measured using indirect calorimetry. These birds varied in body mass from 10–120 g, enabling allometric analyses, and comparisons with values expected for other passerine birds. Across this size range SMR was uniformly depressed to about 66% of that expected for passerines. The equation describing the allometric relationship between SMR during the active phase (in ml 0₂/g, h) and body mass (mass in g) for these 10 honeyeater species was SMR = 6.68 M^.321. I conclude that this reduction in SMR represents a functional response to selective pressures related to nectarivory as a lifestyle.

Keywords:

• Meliphagidae
• nectarivory
• reduced standard metabolic rate

This is contribution No. I from the Dangar Island Research Laboratory.

This is contribution No. I from the Dangar Island Research Laboratory.

Notes

This is contribution No. I from the Dangar Island Research Laboratory.