Abstract
The ability to increase metabolic rate during locomotion has been important in the structural evolution and evolutionary success of both birds and mammals. Greater endurance capabilities are conferred directly by greater maximal metabolic rates, which vary between species. These maximal rates are known for many mammals1 but have not been determined for birds. We have measured oxygen consumption in a large flightless bird, the rhea, Rhea americana , while it was running on an inclined treadmill, and find an upper limit to aerobic metabolism that is 36 times greater than the minimum resting rate, a factorial increase exceeding that reported for nearly all mammals.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Seeherman, H. J., Taylor, C. R., Maloiy, G. M. O. & Armstrong, R. B. Respir. Physiol. 44, 11–23 (1981).
Lasiewski, R. C. & Dawson, W. R. Condor 69, 13–23 (1967).
Ellington, C. P. J. Exp. Biol. 160, 71–91 (1991).
Brackenbury, J. H. & El-Sayed, M. S. J. Exp. Biol. 117, 349–355 ( 1985).
Kooyman, G. L. & Ponganis, P. J. J. Exp. Biol. 195 , 199–209 (1994).
Weibel, E. R., Taylor, C. R. & Hoppeler, H. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 88, 10357-10361, (1991).
Maina, J. N. & King, S. A. J. Anat. 163, 67–73 (1989).
Dubach, M. Respir. Physiol. 46, 43–60 (1981).
Piiper, J. & Scheid, P. in Comparative Physiology (eds Bolis, L., Schmidt-Nielsen, K. & Maddrell, S. H. P.) 161-185 (North-Holland, 1973).
Taylor, C. R., Dmi’el, R., Fedak, M. & Schmidt-Neilsen, K. Am. J. Physiol. 51, 772–776 (1981).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bundle, M., Hoppeler, H., Vock, R. et al. High metabolic rates in running birds. Nature 397, 31–32 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1038/16173
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/16173
This article is cited by
-
Convergent genomic signatures of flight loss in birds suggest a switch of main fuel
Nature Communications (2019)
-
Aerobic performance in tinamous is limited by their small heart. A novel hypothesis in the evolution of avian flight
Scientific Reports (2017)
-
Performance correlates of resting metabolic rate in garden skinks Lampropholis delicata
Journal of Comparative Physiology B (2013)
-
The evolutionary continuum of limb function from early theropods to birds
Naturwissenschaften (2009)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.