Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Interrelationships between egg mass and adult body mass and metabolism among passerine birds

Beziehungen zwischen Eigewicht, Körpergewicht und Stoffwechsel bei Sperlingsvögeln

  • Published:
Journal für Ornithologie Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The regression of egg mass of Passeriformes against female body mass (n=1244) and basal metabolic rate of Passeriformes against body mass (n=159) have similar slopes, indicating that for this group egg mass is directly proportional to basal metabolic rate and that the relative egg mass (% of body mass) is directly proportional to the weight-specific metabolism. This relationship and the average caloric density of passerine eggs (n=38) provides an estimate of the cost of egg production, which for single eggs is 41 % of the basal metabolic rate.

Zusammenfassung

Die Regressionsgeraden von Eigewichten der Passeriformes und weiblicher Körpergewichte (N=1244) einerseits sowie von Ruheumsatz und Körpergewichten (N=159) andererseits haben vergleichbare Steigungen. Das bedeutet, (1) daß für diese Vogelordnung das Eigewicht proportional zum Ruheumsatz und (2) daß das relative Eigewicht (% des Körpergewichtes) proportional zum gewichtspezifischen Stoffwechsel ist. Dieses Verhältnis und der durchschnittliche kalorische Wert der Eier (N=38) erlauben die Kosten der Eiproduktion zu schätzen: sie betragen für das einzelne Ei 41 % des Ruheumsatzes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature

  • Amadon, D. (1943): Bird weights and egg weights. Auk 60: 221–234.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aschoff, J., &H. Pohl (1970): Der Ruheumsatz von Vögeln als Funktion der Tageszeit und der Körpergröße. J. Orn. 111: 38–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brody, S. (1945): Bioenergetics and growth. Reinhold Publ., New York. (Reprinted 1964, Hafner Publ., New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • Calder, W. A. (1978): The Kiwi. Sci. Amer. 239: 102–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Càrey, C., H. Rahn &P. Parisi (1980): Calories, water, lipid, and yolk in avian eggs. Condor 82: 335–343.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dol'nik, T. V., &V. R. Dol'nik (1981): Dependence of egg and clutch weight, production, and productive energy of passerine females on their body weight. Translated in: Soviet J. Ecology 12: 287–293, 1982. Plenum Press. Originally publ. in Ekologiya, No. 5, 45–51 (1981).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, H. I. (1984): Energetics of free-ranging birds. In: (eds.G. C. Whittow &H. Rahn). Seabird Energetics, Plenum Press, New York: 203–234.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • ElWailly, A. J. (1966): Energy requirements for egg-laying and incubation in the Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia castanotis). Condor 68: 582–594.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kendeigh, S. C., V. R. Dol'nik &V. M. Gavrilov (1977): Avian energetics. In: (Eds.J. Pinowski andS. C. Kendeigh) Granivorous Birds in Ecosystems. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: 129–204, and Appendix 5.1: 365–373.

    Google Scholar 

  • King, J. R. (1973). Energetics of reproduction in birds. In (Ed:D. S. Farner), Breeding Biology of Birds. U. S. Nat. Acad. Sci., Washington, D. C.: 78–107.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lasiewski, R. C., &W. R. Dawson (1967): A re-examination of the relation between standard metabolic rate and body weight in birds. Condor 69: 12–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rahn, H., C. V. Paganelli &A. Ar (1975): Relation of avian egg weight to body weight. Auk 92: 750–765.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rahn, H., R. A. Ackerman &C. V. Paganelli (1984): Eggs, yolk and embryonic growth rate. In (ed:G. C. Whittow &H. Rahn). Seabird Energetics. Plenum Press, New York: 89–112.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Rahn, H., C. V. Paganelli &P. R. Sotherland (1985): Initial mass of avian eggs: Comparison between measured and calculated values. J. Orn. 126: 210–212.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ricklefs, R. E. (1974): Energetics of reproduction in birds. In: (ed.R. A. Paynter, Jr.). Avian Energetics. Publ. Nuttall Orn. Cl., No. 15, Cambridge, Mass.: 152–292.

  • Schönwetter, A. (1960–83): Handbuch der Oologie, ed.W. Meise, Band I–III. Akademie Verlag, Berlin.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Scott, D. M., &C. D. Ankney (1983): Do Darwin's Finches lay small eggs? Auk 100: 226–227.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Tyne, J., &A. J. Berger (1971): Fundamentals of Ornithology. Dover Publications, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walsberg, G. D. (1983): Avian ecological energetics. In: (ed.D. S. Farner, J. R. King, andK. C. Parkes). Avian Biology Vol. 7: 161–200.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Physiology, State University of New York at Buffalo, 14214, Buffalo, New York, USA

    Hermann Rahn, Paul R. Sotherland & Charles V. Paganelli

Authors
  1. Hermann Rahn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Paul R. Sotherland
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Charles V. Paganelli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rahn, H., Sotherland, P.R. & Paganelli, C.V. Interrelationships between egg mass and adult body mass and metabolism among passerine birds. J Ornithol 126, 263–271 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01640368

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01640368

Keywords

Search

Navigation