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Ventilatory physiology of the numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus)

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Abstract

This study examines the ventilatory physiology of the numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus), a small to medium-sized (550 g) termitivorous marsupial. Ventilatory parameters at thermoneutrality reflect the slightly low (83% of predicted) basal metabolic rate of the numbat, with ventilation frequency (ƒR; 30.6±3.65 breaths min−1), tidal volume [VT; 6.0±0.66 ml at body temperature and pressure, saturated (BTPS)] and consequently minute volume (VI; 117.7±15.22 ml min−1; BTPS) all being 80–87% of that expected for a marsupial of similar body mass. Oxygen extraction was 27.7±1.37% in the thermoneutral zone. As is typical of marsupials, numbats accommodated increased oxygen consumption rates at ambient temperatures (T a) below the thermoneutral zone by increasing minute volume (up to 411.2±43.98 ml min−1; BTPS at T a=10 °C) rather than oxygen extraction. Minute volume at 10 °C increased more by changes in ventilation frequency (up to 45.5±4.85 breaths min−1) than tidal volume (9.4±1.03 ml, BTPS), as is also typical for a small-medium sized marsupial.

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Fig. 1A–E
Fig. 2

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Abbreviations

BMR :

basal metabolic rate

BTPS :

body temperature and pressure, saturated

EO 2 :

oxygen extraction

ƒ R :

ventilation frequency

STPD :

standard temperature and pressure, dry

T a :

ambient temperature

T b :

body temperature

TNZ :

thermoneutral zone

V I :

minute volume

V T :

tidal volume

V̇O 2 :

oxygen consumption rate

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Perth Zoo, in particular Dr Terry Fletcher and staff of the Native Species Breeding Center for the use of the numbats and providing laboratory space, and to Alex Larcombe for his invaluable assistance. This study was approved by both the University of Western Australia and Perth Zoo animal ethics committees, and was supported by an APA to C. Cooper and the Australian Governments Cooperative Research Centers Program through the CRC for Conservation and Management of Marsupials.

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  1. Zoology, School of Animal Biology M092, University of Western Australia, 6009, Crawley, WA, Australia

    C. E. Cooper & P. C. Withers

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  1. C. E. Cooper
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  2. P. C. Withers
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Correspondence to C. E. Cooper.

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Communicated by I.D. Hume

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Cooper, C.E., Withers, P.C. Ventilatory physiology of the numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus). J Comp Physiol B 174, 107–111 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00360-003-0394-0

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