The energetic significance of communal roosting and insulated roost nests in a small arid-zone passerine

• Published in: Ostrich Vol. 89; no. 4; pp. 347 - 354
• Main Authors: Lubbe, Nevanya, Czenze, Zenon J, Noakes, Matthew J, McKechnie, Andrew E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Johannesburg Taylor & Francis 02.10.2018; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Air temperature; Animal behavior; Aridity; Birds; cold; Cold weather; endothermy; energetics; Energy; Energy conservation; Energy consumption; Energy expenditure; Energy requirements; Energy usage; huddling; latitude; Metabolic rate; Metabolism; nest; Nests; night temperature; Nocturnal; Passeriformes; prediction; Respirometry; resting metabolic rate; roosting behavior; Roosts; Scaly-feathered Finch; Songbirds; Sporopipes squamifrons; supply balance; thermoregulation; weather; winter
• ISSN: 0030-6525; 1727-947X; 1727-947X
• DOI: 10.2989/00306525.2018.1538061

Small endotherms have evolved behavioural mechanisms for reducing rest-phase energy expenditure, which reduce the likelihood of mismatches between energy supply and demand during periods of cold weather and/or food scarcity. Although the energetic consequences of communal roosting and the use of ins...