Contribution of shivering in leg muscles to heat production in Japanese quail

Abstract

1986. Contribution of shivering in leg muscles to heat production in Japanese quail. Can. J. Zool. 64: 889-892. We estimated heat production in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) by measuring oxygen uptake using open-circuit respirometry as ambient temperature was decreased gradually from 26 to 3.5"C. At the same time, the intensity of shivering was estimated in both the leg muscles and the flight muscles by measuring electromyograms. Metabolic heat production increased in a linear fashion as ambient temperature decreased. Shivering intensity increased at the same linear rate in the leg muscles as in the flight muscles as ambient temperature decreased. The leg muscles produce a substantial fraction (about 114) of the total shivering heat production at low ambient temperatures. Shivering occurred in bursts; the onset of a burst in the leg muscles was precisely synchronized with the onset of a burst in the flight muscles.STEVENS, E. D., J. FERGUSON, V. G. THOMAS et E. HOHTOLA. 1986. Contribution of shivering in leg muscles to heat production in Japanese quail. Can. J. Zool. 64: 889-892. Nous avons estimk la production de chaleur chez des cailles japonaises (Coturnix coturnix japonica) en mesurant la consommation d'oxygkne au moyen d'un respiromktre a circuit ouvert, tout en abaissant graduellement la tempkrature ambiante de 26 a 3,5"C. L'enregistrement des klectromyogrammes dans les muscles des pattes et les muscles du vol a permis d'kvaluer en mCme temps I'intensitk du frissonnement. La production mktabolique de chaleur est fonction linkaire de la baisse de tempkrature. L'intensitk du frissonnement augmente selon le mCme taux linkaire dans les muscles des pattes et les muscles du vol a mesure que baisse la tempkrature. Les muscles des pattes sont responsables d'une fraction importante (environ 114) de la production de chaleur totale due au frissonnement lorsque la tempkrature ambiante est faible. Le frissonnement se produit par secousses; le dkclenchement du frissonnement dans les muscles des pattes est parfaitement synchronisk avec le dkclenchement du frissonnement dans les muscles du vol.[Traduit par la Revue]

Avian Adjustments to Cold

“…These apparent alterations in the relationship between electrogenesis and calorigenesis could be due to changes in the distribution of motor units recruited within and among muscles. Stevens et al (1986) provided evidence of a similar slope of mean rectified EMG and oxygen consumption in the pectoralis and gastrocnemius muscles of Japanese quail, but they did not provide data on the effects of cold acclimation. Some attention should also be given to the possible involvement of tonic fibers in shivering in cold-acclimated animals and whether contraction of these fibers produces a typical EMG (Sect.…”

Leg length and temperature determine the use of unipedal roosting in birds

“…It is likely that at very low temperatures, other thermoregulatory behaviours such as body orientation in relation to the sun (Lustick et al 1978, Brodsky andWeatherhead 1984) or heat generating behaviours (e.g. shivering and ptiloerection) (Hohtola et al 1980, Walsberg 1985, Stevens et al 1986) may become important. Similarly, other behavioural mechanisms may be used at very high ambient temperatures such as seeking shade (Lustick et al 1978, Walsberg 1985, body orientation away from the sun (Lustick et al 1978, Brodsky andWeatherhead 1984) and heat dissipating behaviours (e.g.…”

“…However, coping with short-term fluctuations in ambient temperature, or opportunities for energy conservation, must be dealt with by behavioural adaptations, such as seeking shade (Lustick et al 1978, Walsberg 1985, body orientation in relation to the sun (Lustick et al 1978, Brodsky andWeatherhead 1984), heat dissapating or generating behaviours (e.g. panting, shivering and ptiloerection) (Hohtola et al 1980, Walsberg 1985, Stevens et al 1986 or the deliberate covering of exposed body regions with the insulating plumage (Carrascal et al 2001, Carr andLima 2011). The covering of bare appendages generally increases with decreasing ambient temperature (Amlaner andBall 1983, Ryeland et al 2017).…”

The Ontogeny of Thermal Independence in Nestling Gannets

“…Well developed leg musculature early in the nestling period of passerines and small nonpaserines may undoubtedly facilitate other important functions including behavioural interactions involved in the procurement of food from parents and in preventing young from falling out of nests. Simultaneous recording of EMG potentials from leg and pectoral muscles (Stevens et al 1986) throughout thermoregulatory development, particularly in large altricial nonpasserines and gulls that use both types of shivering, could help to clarify the thermogenic roles of major skeletal muscle masses.…”