CHANGES IN METABOLIC RATE AND ENERGY RESERVE UTILISATION DURING STARVATION: ADAPTATIONS TO LONG-TERM DROUGHT PERIODS.

150, 180 and 240 days. Two groups were refed after 90 and 240 days of food deprivation. Body mass (Wt) decreased during the starvation periods. Hepatic reserves were mobilized mainly after 30 days and perivisceral fat bodies were consumed gradually, being completely exhausted after 240 days of food deprivation. Length of starvation was associated with a significant decrease in the oxygen uptake (). In spite of this reduction, the respiratory frequency (f 2OV& R) was kept nearly constant along the starvation periods. Traíra can survive food deprivation for periods of up to 180 days without reductions in metabolism and when they do become hypometabolic, normal metabolic rates are rapidly restored upon refeeding