Standard and comparative energetics of a small avian herbivore (<i>Phytotoma rara</i>)

Rezende, EL; López-Calleja, MV; Bozinovic, F

Standard and comparative energetics of a small avian herbivore (<i>Phytotoma rara</i>)

Date

2001

Authors

Rezende, EL

López-Calleja, MV

Bozinovic, F

Abstract

We studied the standard and comparative energetics of the Rufous-tailed Plancutter (Phytotoma rara), one of the smallest avian herbivores. The Rufous-tailed Plancutter had basal metabolic rate (BMR) values that so far are the highest mass-independent values observed in avian herbivores. Probably the BMR values attained by P.rara reflect its geographic distribution in temperate environments. Using a comparative analysis,we observed that herbivorous birds from temperate geographic areas tend to have higher BMR than tropical ones.