A gecko consumes 0.75 g/day of insects containing 70% water and an energy conten

Question

A gecko consumes 0.75 g/day of insects containing 70% water and an energy content of 20 kcal per g oven dried insect, 30% of the energy is lost in feces and 3% lost in urine. Assuming that the gecko is in energy balance: i) Determine the average daily metabolic rate. ii) The digestive efficiency? iii) If the resting metabolic rate of the lizard is 0.6 kcal/h, is the animal in energy balance how much energy is available for activity? iv) What is a gecko? Do you think the proportion of energy allocated to activity is justified?

Explanation / Answer

Water balance = 0.70 x 0.75 g/day = 0.525 g/day

Total dry energy = 20 kcal/g x (0.75 g/day - 0.525 g/day) = 4.5 kcal / day = input

output

faeces = 4.5 x 0.30 = 1.35 kcal/day Urine = 0.03 x 4.5 = 0.135 kcal/day

Average daily metabolic rate = Input - output = 4.5 - (1.35+0.135) = 3.015 kcal/day

Digestive efficiency = (Energy input- energy lost)/ intake x 100 = 3.015/4.5 x100 = 67%

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