Variation in Metabolic Rates of a Lizard: Use of SMR in Ecological Contexts
Niewiarowski PH and Waldschmidt SR. 1992. Variation in Metabolic Rates of a Lizard: Use of SMR in Ecological Contexts. Functional Ecology. 6(1):15-22
Standard metabolic rates (SMR) are used to help determine maintenance costs of free-ranging ecotherms, but there are relevant sources of variation in the rate of metabolism that aren't accounted for by SMR. The effects of temperature, sex, population and time of day on the rate of oxygen consumption of resting canyon lizards was studied. Findings of this study suggest that SMR should not be used to study aerobic metabolism. Diel cycle in oxygen consumption and increase in oxygen consumption due to feeding leads to underestimates of maintenance costs.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Niewiarowski, P; Waldschmidt, S
- Units
- BIBE
- Keywords
- Air Temperature, Animal Studies, canyon lizard (Sceloporus merriami) - Squamata - Sauria - Iguanidae, Energy Budgets, Metabolism