METABOLIC COSTS OF DOMINANCE IN DIPPERS, CINCLUS-CINCLUS

The status of temporarily captive dippers was assessed in a laboratory arena with dyads competing for access to a perch. In this way dominan ce scores and a dominance ranking were obtained for each individual, w hich were largely independent of site-specific factors. Dominance scor es were compared with basal metabolic rates (BMR) obtained by prior ov ernight measurement on the same individuals: dominant males had a high er BMR. Neither plumage colour nor body size measures (with one except ion) were related to mass-specific metabolism. The energy cost of domi nance was relatively small, however, when compared with daily energy e xpenditure of free-living dippers. It is concluded that the obligate m etabolic costs of dominant behaviour were unlikely to have a significa nt effect on energy balance or survival.