1) Laughing Gull

Body weight = 0.31 kg of which 10 g is fat

VO2 = 45.8 l O₂ • kg^-1 • h^-1

Flight velocity = 36 km • h^-1

How far can the gull fly on 10 g of fat?

What is its cost of locomotion?

2) Salmon

Body weight = 0.20 kg of which 2.0 g is liver and muscle glycogen

VO2 = 0.25 l O₂ • kg^-1 • h^-1

Swimming speed = 2.0 km • h^-1

How far can it swim on 2.0 g of glycogen?

What is its cost of locomotion?

3) Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

During migration, the birds must fly 650 mi across the Gulf of Mexico from Florida toYucatan.

Pre-migration, birds put on 2.0 g of fat on top of a typical weight of 2.5 g. Therefore, their mean weight during the migration = 3.5 g.

VO2 = 42 ml O₂ • g^-1 • h^-1

Flight velocity = 25 mph

Can the birds make it to Yucatan or do their little bodies plunge into the Gulf?

What is their cost of locomotion?

See solutions to these problems.

Return to Bio 345 Syllabus

Revised on 18 July 1997