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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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