Behavioural thermoregulation in wintering black ducks: roosting and resting

Brodsky, Lynn M.

doi:10.1139/z84-177

Cited by 35 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 9 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…For many birds, roost arrival and departure times are related to environmental factors such as day length, light intensity, cloud cover and T a (Swingland 1976, Brodsky and Weatherhead 1984, Reebs 1986, Everding and Jones 2006. During inclement weather, late departures and early arrivals, which result in longer periods of inactivity in the roost, presumably reduce thermoregulatory costs (Reebs 1986).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Body Temperature and Activity Patterns of Free-Living Laughing Kookaburras: The Largest Kingfisher Is Heterothermic

Cooper

Körtner

Brigham

et al. 2008

Condor

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. We show that free-ranging Laughing Kookaburras (Dacelo novaeguineae), the largest kingfishers, are heterothermic. Their minimum recorded body temperature (T b ) was 28.6• C, and the maximum daily T b range was 9.1• C, which makes kookaburras only the second coraciiform species and the only member of the Alcedinidae known to be heterothermic. The amplitude of nocturnal body temperature variation for wild, freeliving kookaburras during winter was substantially greater than the mean of 2.6• C measured previously for captive kookaburras. Calculated metabolic savings from nocturnal heterothermia were up to 5.6 ± 0.9 kJ per night. There was little effect of ambient temperature on any of the calculated T b -dependent variables for the kookaburras, although ambient temperature did influence the time that activity commenced for these diurnal birds. Kookaburras used endogenous metabolic heat production to rewarm from low T b , rather than relying on passive rewarming. Rewarming rates (0.05 ± 0.01• C min −1 ) were consistent with those of other avian species. Captivity can have major effects on thermoregulation for birds, and therefore the importance of field studies of wild, free-living individuals is paramount for understanding the biology of avian temperature regulation.Key words: Alcedinidae, Coraciiformes, heterothermia, temperature telemetry, torpor. Temperatura Corporal y Patrones de Actividad de Individuos Silvestres de Dacelo novaeguineae: El Martín Pescador de Mayor Tamaño es HeterotérmicoResumen. Mostramos que Dacelo novaeguineae, el martín pescador de mayor tamaño corporal, es heterotérmico. La temperatura corporal mínima (T b ) registrada para esta especie fue de 28.6• C y el rango máximo de variación diaria fue de 9.1• C, lo que hace a esta especie la segunda especie conocida como heterotérmica dentro de los coraciiformes y laúnica dentro de la familia Alcedinidae. La amplitud de la variación de la temperatura corporal nocturna para individuos silvestres de D. novaeguineae durante el invierno fue substancialmente mayor que la media de 2.6• C medida anteriormente en individuos de la misma especie en cautiverio. El ahorro metabólico resultante de la heterotermia nocturna fue de hasta 5.6 ± 0.9 kJ por noche. Hubo poca influencia de la temperatura ambiental sobre cualquier variable dependiente de la T b de D. novaeguineae, aunque la temperatura ambiental influyó sobre el horario en que comenzó la actividad en estas aves diurnas. Los individuos de D. novaeguineae utilizaron la producción de calor metabólico endógeno para aumentar la T b baja, en vez de depender de un recalentamiento pasivo. Las tasas de recalentamiento (0.05 ± 0.01• C min −1 ) fueron consistentes con las reportadas para otras especies de aves. El cautiverio puede tener efectos importantes sobre la termorregulación en las aves, por lo que los estudios de campo con individuos silvestres son de extrema importancia para entender la biología de la regulación de la temperatura en las aves.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Body Temperature and Activity Patterns of Free-Living Laughing Kookaburras: The Largest Kingfisher Is Heterothermic

Cooper

Körtner

Brigham

et al. 2008

Condor

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Thermoregulation has been most frequently described as the causal explanation for observed biases in orientation (e.g. Bartholomew 1966, DeWitt et al 1967, Lustick et al 1978, Brodsky & Weatherhead 1984, Fortin et al 2000. In addition to models around thermoregulation, another proposed explanation is that a downward orientation decreases desiccation stress or allows for a greater capacity for water storage, as the head area is wet for a longer period of time (Gallien 1985, Williams et al 1999.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The ability of an organism to adopt a particular orientation at a given time/place may have survival and health implications. Specific orientations have been suggested to confer benefits in terms of thermoregulation (Bartholomew 1966, DeWitt et al 1967, Lustick et al 1978, Brodsky & Weatherhead 1984, Fortin et al 2000, predation success (Walguarnery et al 2009), vulnerability to predation (Coleman et al 1999), waste disposal (Williams et al 1999), hatchling success ) and health (Goodenough et al 2008). Often these orientations function through varying exposure of the body to the stimulus of interest, to increase or decrease the surface area sensitive to the factor.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Up or down? Limpet orientation on steeply sloped substrata

Fraser¹,

Coleman²,

Klein³

2010

Aquat. Biol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Variation in the distribution of animals across the landscape, within and between habitats, can occur at a variety of scales. At the smallest scale, individuals can either be positioned randomly or can be orientated in regard to variables. Differences in orientation can, for many animals, directly affect their reproductive success and/or survivorship, and these effects may have downstream ecological consequences. Organisms may orientate themselves in a specific way in response to varying environmental conditions or habitat properties; alternatively they may consistently orientate in a specific direction. The present study investigated patterns of orientation during low tide in the intertidal marine limpet Cellana tramoserica on steeply sloped rocky surfaces (> 60°to the vertical). We also examined whether individual limpets consistently orientated in the same direction or if orientation was dependent upon their orientation during the previous low tide. There was a downward bias in orientation. Mensurative and manipulative experiments measuring limpet orientation over different days showed that individual limpets did not consistently orientate in the same direction and that their orientation was independent of their orientation during the previous low tide. Thus, whilst limpets on slopes often orientate with their heads downwards, there is much inherent individual variation in the orientation patterns exhibited by resting limpets. Simple mechanistic explanations such as responses to desiccation are unlikely to be sufficient to explain why limpets choose different orientations at the end of foraging excursions. These findings have implications for understanding limpet distributions on rocky shores and downstream ecological consequences.

show abstract

“…Redheads in Louisiana winter approximately 270 km farther north than those in southern Texas. The colder temperatures at the more northerly latitude of Chandeleur Sound undoubtedly result in greater thermoregulatory costs for these birds (Brodsky & Weatherhead, 1984;Jorde et al, 1984). In addition, the Chandeleur Islands are situated approximately 30 km offshore from the Louisiana mainland, while the Laguna Madre is immediately adjacent to the Texas mainland.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diurnal time-activity budgets of redheads (Aythya americana) wintering in seagrass beds and coastal ponds in Louisiana and Texas

et al. 2006

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Diurnal time-activity budgets were determined for wintering redheads (Aythya americana) from estuarine seagrass beds in Louisiana (Chandeleur Sound) and Texas (Laguna Madre) and from ponds adjacent to the Laguna Madre. Activities differed (p<0.0001) by location, month, and diurnal time period. Resting and feeding were the most frequent activities of redheads at the two estuarine sites, whereas drinking was almost nonexistent. Birds on ponds in Texas engaged most frequently in resting and drinking, but feeding was very infrequent. Redheads from the Louisiana estuarine site rested less than birds in Texas at either the Laguna Madre or freshwater ponds. Redheads in Louisiana fed more than birds in Texas; this was partially because of weather differences (colder temperatures in Louisiana), but the location effect was still significant even when we adjusted the model for weather effects. Redheads in Louisiana showed increased resting and decreased feeding as winter progressed, but redheads in Texas did not exhibit a seasonal pattern in either resting or feeding. In Louisiana, birds maintained a high level of feeding activity during the early morning throughout the winter, whereas afternoon feeding tapered off in mid-to late-winter. Texas birds showed a shift from morning feeding in early winter to afternoon feeding in late winter. Males and females at both Chandeleur Sound and Laguna Madre showed differences in their activities, but because the absolute difference seldom exceeded 2%, biological significance is questionable. Diurnal time-activity budgets of redheads on the wintering grounds are influenced by water salinities and the use of dietary fresh water, as well as by weather conditions, tides, and perhaps vegetation differences between sites. The opportunity to osmoregulate via dietary freshwater, vs. via nasal salt glands, may have a significant effect on behavioral allocations.

show abstract

Behavioural thermoregulation in wintering black ducks: roosting and resting

Cited by 35 publications

References 9 publications

Body Temperature and Activity Patterns of Free-Living Laughing Kookaburras: The Largest Kingfisher Is Heterothermic

Body Temperature and Activity Patterns of Free-Living Laughing Kookaburras: The Largest Kingfisher Is Heterothermic

Up or down? Limpet orientation on steeply sloped substrata

Diurnal time-activity budgets of redheads (Aythya americana) wintering in seagrass beds and coastal ponds in Louisiana and Texas

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About