Water and Energy-Metabolism and Estimated Food-Consumption Rates of Free-Living Wambengers, Phascogale-Calura (Marsupialia, Dasyuridae)

Abstract

The metabolic rates and water fluxes of free-living Phascogale calura were determined with doubly labelled water. The highest rates of water influx occurred in October, when the adult population consisted of lactating females only. The highest metabolic rates occurred in June, and the lowest rates of both water influx and metabolism occurred in March. The value of the data in designing toxic baits for the control of foxes or other exotic pests, while minimising the hazard to phascogales of accidental poisoning, is discussed.