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In situ heart rate and activity of incubating Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae)

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Summary

Heart rates and activity were monitored over 24 h in unrestrained, incubating Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) exposed to natural conditions in the colony. Heart rate (HR in bpm) increased linearly with wind speed (w; range 0–19 m/s): HR = 85.8+1.35 w, but was unrelated (P>0.05) to temperature (-2.5°–6°C), humidity (37%–100%) cloud cover (0–8/8) and estimated solar radiation (0–12). Wind-induced heat loss was apparently compensated to a large degree by increased metabolic activity. Activity (A) measured as frequency of standing per hour, decreased linearly with temperature (t) and wind speed (w): A = 1.651−0.033w−0.090t. After correcting for meteorological influences, heart rate and bird activity showed no diurnal periodicity. When incubating, metabolism and activity of Adélie penguins appear to be mainly governed by climatic variations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Meereskunde an der Universität Kiel, Düsternbrooker Weg 20, D-2300, Kiel 1, Federal Republic of Germany

    B. Culik, D. Adelung, M. Heise & R. P. Wilson

  2. Instituto Antarctico Argentino, Cerrito 1248, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    N. R. Coria & H. J. Spairani

Authors
  1. B. Culik
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  2. D. Adelung
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  3. M. Heise
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  4. R. P. Wilson
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  5. N. R. Coria
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  6. H. J. Spairani
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Culik, B., Adelung, D., Heise, M. et al. In situ heart rate and activity of incubating Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae). Polar Biol 9, 365–370 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00442526

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00442526

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