Linked Life Data

18083725

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/18083725

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
Pt 1
pubmed:dateCreated
2007-12-17
pubmed:abstractText
This paper investigates the energy savings of male emperor penguins Aptenodytes forsteri linked to their huddling behaviour, the key factor that allows them to assume their incubating task while undergoing a long fast. Drawing on new studies by our team, this review examines the energetic benefits accrued from huddling and estimates the respective contributions of wind protection, exposure to mild ambient temperatures, reduction in cold-exposed body surfaces and body temperature adjustments in these energy savings. The metabolic rate of 'loosely grouped' birds (restrained in small groups of 5-10 individuals, which are unable to huddle effectively) is reduced by 39% compared to metabolic rate of 'isolated' birds, with 32% of these energetic benefits due to wind protection. In addition, metabolic rate of 'free-ranging' emperors, i.e. able to move freely and to huddle, is on average 21% lower than that of 'loosely grouped' birds. Exposure to mild ambient temperatures within the groups and reduction in cold-exposed body surfaces while huddling, though overestimated, would represent a 38% metabolic reduction. About two thirds of metabolic lowering is attributable to the reduction in cold-exposed body surfaces and one third to the mild microclimate created within the groups. Moreover, body temperature adjustments contribute to these energetic benefits: maintaining body temperatures 1 degrees C lower would represent a 7-17% reduction in energy expenditure. These processes, linked together, explain how huddling emperors save energy and maintain a constant body temperature, which ensures a successful incubation in the midst of the austral winter.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jan
pubmed:issn
0022-0949
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
211
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
1-8
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2008
pubmed:articleTitle
Energy saving processes in huddling emperor penguins: from experiments to theory.
pubmed:affiliation
IPHC-DEPE, UMR 7178, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Louis Pasteur, 23 rue Becquerel, 67087, Strasbourg, France. caroline.gilbert@c-strasbourg.fr
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Review, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't