1) Laughing Gull

Amount of energy available: (10 g fat)(9.5 kcal •g^-1 fat) = 95 kcal

Rate of oxygen utilization: (45.8 l O₂ • kg^-1 • h^-1)(0.31 kg body weight) = 14.2 l O2 • h^-1

Convert to kcal: (14.2 l O₂ • h^-1)(4.8 kcal • l O₂^-1) = 68.2 kcal • h^-1

Divide amt. of energy available by rate of utilization: (95 kcal) / (68.2 kcal • h^-1) = 1.39 h

Multiply time by velocity to get distance: (36 km • h^-1)(1.39 h) = 50.2 km

C.L = (45.8 l O₂ • kg^-1 • h^-1) / (36 km • h^-1) = 1.27 l O₂ • km^-1 • kg^-1

2) Salmon

Amount of energy available: (2 g of carbohydrate)(4.0 kcal •g^-1 carbohydrate) = 8.0 kcal

Rate of oxygen utilization: (0.25 l O₂ • kg^-1 • h-1)(0.2 kg body weight) = 0.05 l O₂ • h^-1

Convert to kcal: (0.05 l O₂ • h^-1)(4.8 kcal • l O₂^-1) = 0.24 kcal • h^-1

Divide amt. of energy available by rate of utilization: (8.0 kcal) / (0.24 kcal • h^-1) = 33.4 h

Multiply time by velocity to get distance: (2.0 km • h^-1)(33.4 h) = 66.8 km

C.L = (0.25 l O₂ • kg^-1 • h^-1) / (2.0 km • h^-1) = 0.125 l O₂ • km^-1 • kg^-1

3) Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Amount of energy available: (2 g fat)(9.5 kcal •g^-1 fat) = 19 kcal

Rate of oxygen utilization: (0.042 l O₂ • g^-1 • h^-1)(3.5 g body weight) = 0.147 l O₂ • h^-1

Convert to kcal: (0.147 l O₂ • h^-1)(4.8 kcal • l O₂^-1) = 0.706 kcal • h^-1

Divide amt. of energy available by rate of utilization: (19 kcal) / (0.706 kcal • h^-1) = 26.9 h

Multiply time by velocity to get distance: (25 mph)(26.9 h) = 673 miles

C.L = (42 l O₂ • kg^-1 • h^-1) / (40 km • h^-1) = 1.05 l O₂ • km^-1 • kg^-1

(25 miles = 40 km)

Return to Bio 345 Syllabus

Revised 18 July 1997