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Energetics of under-water swimming in Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae)

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Summary

The energy consumption of Adélie penguins while at rest in water (8.4 W·kg-1 at 4°C) or swimming below the surface was determined using a 21 m long canal fitted with respiration chambers at each end. Penguins chose to swim 86% of the time at speeds recorded in nature. Cost of transport was lowest (7.9 J·kg-1·m-1) at 1.7–2.3 m·s-1, corresponding to a power input of 15.8 W·kg-1, and only 50% as high as previously reported. Assuming a muscle efficiency of 0.25, propulsion efficiency is 0.4 and overall efficiency is 0.1. Calculated food requirements vary between 1060 g krill per adult and foraging trip at the beginning of the breeding season and 2500 g at the period of highest demand, prior to crèching of the chicks.

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Abbreviations

BMR :

basal metabolic rate

COT :

cost of transport

DEE :

daily energy expenditure

DF :

daily food

M :

mass

P i :

power input

P o :

power output

PVC :

polyvinyl chloride

RMR :

resting metabolic rate

SE :

standard error

STPD :

Standard temperature, pressure and density

VO2 :

oxygen consumption

t :

time

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Meereskunde, Düsternbrooker Weg 20, W-2300, Kiel 1, Federal Republic of Germany

    Boris Culik & Rory P. Wilson

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  1. Boris Culik
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  2. Rory P. Wilson
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Culik, B., Wilson, R.P. Energetics of under-water swimming in Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) . J Comp Physiol B 161, 285–291 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00262310

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00262310

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