Abstract
This study uses indirect calorimetry to assess the effects of humidity on the accuracy of the doubly labeled water (DLW) technique to predict metabolic rate and water flux in brown treesnakes (Boiga irregularis). The DLW technique accurately predicted total water efflux in brown treesnakes under low-humidity conditions and found that the total number of water molecules exchanged with the environment under humid conditions was not significantly different than maximum net total evaporative water loss under low humidity conditions plus fecal water loss. Because of changes of total body water of > 12%, the DLW technique overestimated metabolic rate by a factor of 2.2 under low-humidity conditions. Under high-humidity conditions, the DLW technique overestimated metabolic rate in brown treesnakes by a factor of 4.6. Researchers using the DLW technique in humid or moist environments should be cautious because this study indicates that DLW estimates of metabolic rate may be inflated when large amounts of water vapor are exchanged through the skin or respiratory passages.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 184-191 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Journal of Applied Physiology |
| Volume | 95 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jul 1 2003 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Carbon dioxide production
- Total evaporative water loss
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physiology
- Physiology (medical)
Cite this
Validation of the doubly labeled water method under low and high humidity to estimate metabolic rate and water flux in a tropical snake (Boiga irregularis). / Anderson, Nancy; Hetherington, Thomas E.; Williams, Joseph B.
In: Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol. 95, No. 1, 01.07.2003, p. 184-191.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Validation of the doubly labeled water method under low and high humidity to estimate metabolic rate and water flux in a tropical snake (Boiga irregularis)
AU - Anderson, Nancy
AU - Hetherington, Thomas E.
AU - Williams, Joseph B.
PY - 2003/7/1
Y1 - 2003/7/1
N2 - This study uses indirect calorimetry to assess the effects of humidity on the accuracy of the doubly labeled water (DLW) technique to predict metabolic rate and water flux in brown treesnakes (Boiga irregularis). The DLW technique accurately predicted total water efflux in brown treesnakes under low-humidity conditions and found that the total number of water molecules exchanged with the environment under humid conditions was not significantly different than maximum net total evaporative water loss under low humidity conditions plus fecal water loss. Because of changes of total body water of > 12%, the DLW technique overestimated metabolic rate by a factor of 2.2 under low-humidity conditions. Under high-humidity conditions, the DLW technique overestimated metabolic rate in brown treesnakes by a factor of 4.6. Researchers using the DLW technique in humid or moist environments should be cautious because this study indicates that DLW estimates of metabolic rate may be inflated when large amounts of water vapor are exchanged through the skin or respiratory passages.
AB - This study uses indirect calorimetry to assess the effects of humidity on the accuracy of the doubly labeled water (DLW) technique to predict metabolic rate and water flux in brown treesnakes (Boiga irregularis). The DLW technique accurately predicted total water efflux in brown treesnakes under low-humidity conditions and found that the total number of water molecules exchanged with the environment under humid conditions was not significantly different than maximum net total evaporative water loss under low humidity conditions plus fecal water loss. Because of changes of total body water of > 12%, the DLW technique overestimated metabolic rate by a factor of 2.2 under low-humidity conditions. Under high-humidity conditions, the DLW technique overestimated metabolic rate in brown treesnakes by a factor of 4.6. Researchers using the DLW technique in humid or moist environments should be cautious because this study indicates that DLW estimates of metabolic rate may be inflated when large amounts of water vapor are exchanged through the skin or respiratory passages.
KW - Carbon dioxide production
KW - Total evaporative water loss
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0038647805&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0038647805&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1152/japplphysiol.00692.2002
DO - 10.1152/japplphysiol.00692.2002
M3 - Article
C2 - 12665536
AN - SCOPUS:0038647805
VL - 95
SP - 184
EP - 191
JO - Journal of Applied Physiology
JF - Journal of Applied Physiology
SN - 8750-7587
IS - 1
ER -