The integration of energy and nitrogen balance in the hummingbird <i>Sephanoides sephaniodes</i>

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dc.contributor.authorLópez-Calleja, MV
dc.contributor.authorFernández, MJ
dc.contributor.authorBozinovic, F
dc.date.accessioned2025-01-21T01:08:51Z
dc.date.available2025-01-21T01:08:51Z
dc.date.issued2003
dc.description.abstractFloral nectars are rich in energy but contain only traces of amino acids, and it has been hypothesized that arthropods may be an important source of energy and amino acids for hummingbirds. We studied the nitrogen requirements of hummingbirds as well as how they use small arthropods to satisfy their nitrogen and energy requirements and how organ mass varies with nitrogen intake. Non-reproductive green-backed firecrowns Sephanoides sephaniodes were maintained for 10 days on diets containing 0%, 0.96%, 1.82%, 4.11% and 11.1% nitrogen (dry-matter basis). A second group of individuals were fed with varying amounts of nitrogen-free nectar supplemented with fruit flies. Finally, non-reproductive hummingbirds were captured as a control group for analysis of organ mass and size as well as fat content. The maintenance nitrogen requirement of green-backed firecrowns determined by regression was 1.42 mg N day(-1), yet they required nearly 10 mg N day(-1) to maintain body mass. When arthropods were available, we observed that hummingbirds required approximately 150 fruit flies to maintain body mass, which corresponds to a 5% nitrogen diet. Interestingly, when nectar was restricted (to 4 ml day(-1)), or was absent, arthropods alone were not able to satisfy the body mass balance requirements of hummingbirds, suggesting that arthropods are not adequate as an energy source. In the group offered an 11.1% nitrogen diet, the size and surface of the small intestine, and liver and kidney mass increased in comparison with the control group (non-reproductive field hummingbirds) or the nitrogen-free group, suggesting a nitrogen overload. Our results are in agreement with other studies showing low nitrogen requirements by nectarivores. An important point to stress is that nitrogen digestibility declined in the 11.1% nitrogen diet, which strongly supports our nitrogen absorption saturation hypothesis.
dc.fuente.origenWOS
dc.identifier.doi10.1242/jeb.00572
dc.identifier.eissn1477-9145
dc.identifier.issn0022-0949
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.00572
dc.identifier.urihttps://repositorio.uc.cl/handle/11534/96518
dc.identifier.wosidWOS:000187393400013
dc.issue.numero19
dc.language.isoen
dc.pagina.final3359
dc.pagina.inicio3349
dc.revistaJournal of experimental biology
dc.rightsacceso restringido
dc.subjectnitrogen balance
dc.subjectenergy balance
dc.subjectfood quality
dc.subjectarthropod consumption
dc.subjecthummingbird
dc.subjectgreen-backed firecrown
dc.subjectSephanoides sephaniodes
dc.subjectChile
dc.subject.ods15 Life on Land
dc.subject.ods13 Climate Action
dc.subject.odspa15 Vida de ecosistemas terrestres
dc.subject.odspa13 Acción por el clima
dc.titleThe integration of energy and nitrogen balance in the hummingbird <i>Sephanoides sephaniodes</i>
dc.typeartículo
dc.volumen206
sipa.indexWOS
sipa.trazabilidadWOS;2025-01-12
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