Respiratory evaporative water loss during hovering and forward flight in hummingbirds

Donald R. Powers, Philip W. Getsinger, Bret W. Tobalske, Susan M. Wethington, Sean D. Powers, Douglas R. Warrick

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Hummingbirds represent an end point for small body size and water flux in vertebrates. We explored the role evaporative water loss (EWL) plays in management of their large water pool and its use in dissipating metabolic heat. We measured respiratory evaporative water loss (REWL) in hovering hummingbirds in the field (6 species) and over a range of speeds in a wind tunnel (1 species) using an open-circuit mask respirometry system. Hovering REWL during the active period was positively correlated with operative temperature (Te) likely due to some combination of an increase in the vapor-pressure deficit, increase in lung ventilation rate, and reduced importance of dry heat transfer at higher Te. In rufous hummingbirds (Selasphorus rufus; 3.3g) REWL during forward flight at 6 and 10m/s was less than half the value for hovering. The proportion of total dissipated heat (TDH) accounted for by REWL during hovering at Te>40°C was <40% in most species. During forward flight in S. rufus the proportion of TDH accounted for by REWL was ~35% less than for hovering. REWL in hummingbirds is a relatively small component of the water budget compared with other bird species (<20%) so cutaneous evaporative water loss and dry heat transfer must contribute significantly to thermal balance in hummingbirds.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)279-285
Number of pages7
JournalComparative Biochemistry and Physiology - A Molecular and Integrative Physiology
Volume161
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2012

Keywords

  • Flight
  • Hummingbirds
  • Respiratory evaporative water loss
  • Water balance

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