Moors P J
Culterty Field Station, Department of Zoology, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland.
Oecologia. 1977 Sep;27(3):185-202. doi: 10.1007/BF00347466.
The average respiratory quotient of weasels was 0.73. There were significant differences in average daily metabolic rate (ADMR) between the sexes and six experimental temperatures. As temperature decreased the mean ADMR increased, with a relatively greater rise for females. Regression equations of ADMR on temperature were Y=483.2-9.6X kcal/kg/day for males, and Y=625.3-15.0X kcal/kg/day for females. The minimum metabolic rate measured for males was 6.6 kcal/kg/h, and the maximum 25.7 kcal/kg/h. The relationship between ADMR and body weight varied with different temperatures, but was consistent with the hypothesis that ADMR was proportional to metabolic weight. The energetic costs of activity for my captive weasels were more than 20% of their daily total energy expenditure. Data on metabolism supported the conclusion that long, thin mustelids lose heat faster than normally-shaped mammals of the same weight.The calorific contents of foods, faeces and urine from feeding trials were determined. There were significant differences in the calorific content of faeces between the sexes, and of faeces and urine between diets.Four natural foods (Microtus, Apodemus, rabbit, starling) were offered during feeding trials. Daily food consumption varied between the diets, but small weasels always ate relatively more than large ones. Mean consumption was 0.33 g/g/day for males, and 0.36 g/g/day for females. Weasels on low-bulk diets (rabbit, starling) lost at least as much energy in urine as in faeces. There were significant differences in assimilation efficiency between the sexes and diets. The average efficiency for males was 78.2%, and 79.8% for females. Bulky foods lowered assimilation efficiencies by up to 9%.Daily energy requirements for maintenance calculated from ADMR data were compared with those from feeding trials. On the Microtus diet weasels expended 18.6-30.1% more energy on maintenance than predicted by the ADMR results, whereas on the other diets they expended 2.7-31.4% less energy. Estimates from ADMR data were probably more accurate.
鼬的平均呼吸商为0.73。两性之间以及六个实验温度下的平均日代谢率（ADMR）存在显著差异。随着温度降低，平均ADMR升高，雌性升高幅度相对更大。雄性ADMR关于温度的回归方程为Y = 483.2 - 9.6X千卡/千克/天，雌性为Y = 625.3 - 15.0X千卡/千克/天。雄性测得的最低代谢率为6.6千卡/千克/小时，最高为25.7千卡/千克/小时。ADMR与体重之间的关系随温度不同而变化，但与ADMR与代谢体重成正比的假设一致。我圈养的鼬的活动能量消耗超过其每日总能量消耗的20%。代谢数据支持了这样的结论：长而瘦的鼬科动物比同等体重的正常体型哺乳动物散热更快。测定了喂食试验中食物、粪便和尿液的热量含量。两性之间粪便的热量含量存在显著差异，不同饮食的粪便和尿液热量含量也存在显著差异。喂食试验中提供了四种天然食物（田鼠、姬鼠、兔子、椋鸟）。不同饮食的每日食物消耗量不同，但小鼬总是比大鼬吃得相对更多。雄性的平均消耗量为0.33克/克/天，雌性为0.36克/克/天。食用低体积食物（兔子、椋鸟）的鼬尿液中损失的能量至少与粪便中损失的能量一样多。两性和不同饮食之间的同化效率存在显著差异。雄性的平均效率为78.2%，雌性为79.8%。体积大的食物使同化效率降低多达9%。根据ADMR数据计算出的维持每日能量需求与喂食试验得出的结果进行了比较。以田鼠为食时，鼬维持能量消耗比ADMR结果预测的多18.6 - 30.1%，而以其他食物为食时消耗的能量比预测的少2.7 - 31.4%。ADMR数据的估计可能更准确。
