Comparative physiology of Australian quolls (Dasyurus; Marsupialia) |
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Authors: | Christine E Cooper Philip C Withers |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, Curtin University of Technology, PO Box U1987, Bentley, Perth, WA, 6845, Australia;(2) Animal Biology M092, University of Western Australia, Crawley, 6009, Australia |
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Abstract: | Quolls (Dasyurus) are medium-sized carnivorous dasyurid marsupials. Tiger (3,840 g) and eastern quolls (780 g) are mesic zone species, northern
quolls (516 g) are tropical zone, and chuditch (1,385 g) were once widespread through the Australian arid zone. We found that
standard physiological variables of these quolls are consistent with allometric expectations for marsupials. Nevertheless,
inter-specific patterns amongst the quolls are consistent with their different environments. The lower T
b of northern quolls (34°C) may provide scope for adaptive hyperthermia in the tropics, and they use torpor for energy/water
conservation, whereas the larger mesic species (eastern and tiger quolls) do not appear to. Thermolability varied from little
in eastern (0.035°C °C−1) and tiger quolls (0.051°C oC−1) to substantial in northern quolls (0.100°C oC−1) and chuditch (0.146°C oC−1), reflecting body mass and environment. Basal metabolic rate was higher for eastern quolls (0.662 ± 0.033 ml O2 g−1 h−1), presumably reflecting their naturally cool environment. Respiratory ventilation closely matched metabolic demand, except
at high ambient temperatures where quolls hyperventilated to facilitate evaporative heat loss; tiger and eastern quolls also
salivated. A higher evaporative water loss for eastern quolls (1.43 ± 0.212 mg H2O g−1 h−1) presumably reflects their more mesic distribution. The point of relative water economy was low for tiger (−1.3°C), eastern
(−12.5°C) and northern (+3.3) quolls, and highest for the chuditch (+22.6°C). We suggest that these differences in water economy
reflect lower expired air temperatures and hence lower respiratory evaporative water loss for the arid-zone chuditch relative
to tropical and mesic quolls. |
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