Data from: Basal metabolism in tropical birds: latitude, altitude, and the “pace of life”

We also tested for BMR differences between widely separated tropical regions (Peru and Panama), and between tropical- and temperate-breeding birds. 3. We found no effect of altitude on BMR in Peruvian species and no difference in BMR between Peruvian and Panamanian birds, suggesting that BMR in Neotropical birds is consistent and independent of environmental temperature. In a dataset encompassing more than 500 species, tropical birds had significantly lower BMR than temperate-breeding birds. 4.

In contrast to several recent analyses, we found higher BMR in passerine birds than in non-passerines, independent of breeding latitude. 5. Breeding latitude affects BMR, but diversity in avian life history within and between temperate and tropical regions may explain some of the residual variation in BMR after accounting for body mass and breeding latitude. Future studies of links between life history, metabolism, and environmental factors might benefit from examining these variables within individual species as well as across broad geographic contrasts.

Usage notes

MCC_base on_5000_trees This tree is the summary of 5000 trees downloaded from birdtree.org. The birdtree.org website accompanies the following study: Jetz W, Thomas GH, Joy JB, Hartmann K, Mooers AO (2012) The global diversity of birds in space and time. Nature 491: 444-448. dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature11631, and the Jetz et al. article in Nature should be cited in the primary reference list of any publication that uses data culled from birdtree.org Suplementary Material_Tables