Comparative physiology of Australian quolls (Dasyurus; Marsupialia)

Christine E. Cooper*, Philip C. Withers

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Citations (Scopus)

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 (34A degrees 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 (0.035A degrees C A degrees C(-1)) and tiger quolls (0.051A degrees C A(0)C(-1)) to substantial in northern quolls (0.100A degrees C A(0)C(-1)) and chuditch (0.146A degrees C A(0)C(-1)), reflecting body mass and environment. Basal metabolic rate was higher for eastern quolls (0.662 +/- A 0.033 ml O(2) 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 +/- A 0.212 mg H(2)O g(-1) h(-1)) presumably reflects their more mesic distribution. The point of relative water economy was low for tiger (-1.3A degrees C), eastern (-12.5A degrees C) and northern (+3.3) quolls, and highest for the chuditch (+22.6A degrees 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.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)857-868
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Comparative Physiology B: Biochemical, Systemic, and Environmental Physiology
Volume180
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2010
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Allometry
  • Body temperature
  • Evaporative water loss
  • Metabolic rate
  • Relative water economy
  • Thermal conductance
  • Ventilation
  • BASAL METABOLIC-RATE
  • EVAPORATIVE WATER-LOSS
  • NUMBAT MYRMECOBIUS-FASCIATUS
  • VENTILATORY PHYSIOLOGY
  • FOOD-HABITS
  • SARCOPHILUS-HARRISII
  • TARSIPES-ROSTRATUS
  • HYGRIC PHYSIOLOGY
  • HEAT-BALANCE
  • BODY-MASS

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