Assessment of behavioral energetics model on Puma concolor using doubly labeled water

This study looks at one movement model estimation and validates it using doubly labeled water (DLW), which can also account for energy expenditures beyond those associated with activity. We captured six pumas (51.5  ± 9.9 (SD) kg) during the winter in Colorado that were GPS collared and injected with DLW for an approximately 3-week trial. We found that DEE obtained from the DLW (14.5 ± 6.1 MJ·day−1) did not differ from that estimated using the movement model or from the predicted allometric equatio n based on DLW studies on other mammals. Decreasing air temperature and increasing daily distance movement were correlated with increasing DEE for monitored pumas. Both DLW and movement models provide a reasonable proxy to estimate DEE at the population level but exhibit low precision in estimating individual values for free-ranging puma.
Source: Canadian Journal of Zoology - Category: Zoology Authors: Source Type: research