energy expenditure in arctic seabirds

186 Pages·2010·15.65 MB·English

ENERGY EXPENDITURE
IN ARCTIC SEABIRDS
GEIR WING GABRIELSEN
DR. PHILOS THESIS

Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Troms0,
Norwegian Polar Institute (NP), Oslo and
Department of Arctic Biology and Institute of Medical Biology,
University of TromsB, Troms0,
Norway
ENERGY EXPENDITURE IN ARCTIC
SEABIRDS
1
GEIR WING GABRIELSEN
ISBN 82-7589-036-5
Printed ~n Nwway by Nordoifset, Tmrnrrr
To Jorid, Sigrid, Endre and Ingrid
CONTENTS
PAGE
........................................
AC~OVJLEDGEMENTS 5
.................................................
PREFACE 7
............................................
INTRODUCTION 9
....... .................................
~hemoregulation 12
....... .................................
Aim of the study 14
....................
METABOLIC AND INSULATIVE ADAPTATIONS 15
....... ...........................
Resting metabolic rate 16
....... .......................................
Insulation 28
....... .................................
Body temperature 31
............................
ENERGY COST OF REPRODUCTION 34
....... .........................
Enery cost of incubation 36
....... .....................
~nergyc ost of chick rearing 41
....... .................................
Chick energetics 54
.................................................
SUMMARY 60
..............................................
REFERENCES 63
PAPER I
PAPER I1
PAPER I11
PAPER IV
PAPER V
PAPER VI
PAPER VII
This thesis is based upon data from laboratory and field
studies on Svalbard and in northern Norway. Most of the
laboratory work on Svalbard was done at the research station
of the Norwegian Polar Institute in ~~-Alesun(d79 % 12OE),
while the field studies were done in Kongsfjorden (7g0N 12OE),
.
in Hornsund (77% lSOE) and on Hopen Island (76 % 2S0E)
Both the laboratory and field studies in northern Norway
were carried out on Hornoya, an island in East Finnmark
(70 % 31°E). Most of the work on which this thesis is based
was done while I was a research fellow on the Norwegian
Research Programme for Marine Arctic Ecology (PRO MARE) at the
Norwegian Polar Institute in Oslo from 1984 to 1990. The final
synopsis were written at the Norwegian Institute for Nature
Research, Tromso, while working as a research fellow on the
Programme on North Norwegian Coastal Ecology (MARE NOR) from
1990.
I wish to thank Cand. real. Fridtjof Mehlum at the
Norwegian Polar Institute who introduced me to Svalbard and
seabird ecology. I also wish to thank Professor Johan B.
Steen, at the University of Oslo, who introduced me to the
fascinating world of animal physiology. Thanks also to Johan
for his support, encouragement, enthusiasm and critical
comments to my writing. These have been invaluable in the
completion of this thesis.
Thanks to Department of Arctic Biology and Prof. A.S.
Blix for providing me with the opportunity to present my
thesis to the University of Tromsa.
I also wish to thank my friends and colleagues at both
the Norwegian Polar Institute and at the Norwegian Institute
for Nature Research in Tromss. I particularly thank Dr. Hans
Erik Karlsen, Dr. Howard Parker, Dr. Marcel Klaassen, Dr. Jan
R.E. Taylor, Dr. Marek Konarzewski, Cand. real Ian Gjertz and
my students Per Fauchald and Espen Henriksen who took part in
the collection of data as well as in the completion of
included papers. Thanks to Dr. Kjell Einar Erikstad, NINA,
Troms0, and Cand. real. Rob Barrett, Tromss Museum, for
valuable discussions and critical comments on my writing.
Thanks also to Ann-Grethe Bakker for secretarial assistance
and to Viggo Ree for allowing me to use his seabird drawings.
I also wish to thank the staffs of the research station of The
Norwegian Polar Institute in ~y-Alesund,t he Polish Research
Station in Hornsund and Hopen Radio for their assistance and
accommodation during the field work.
Finally I wish to thank my wife Jorid and our children
(Sigrid, Endre and Ingrid) for all their support and patience
during my many months away from home.
This work was supported by The Research Council of Norway
and The Norwegian Fisheries Research Council.
LG/LL
Geir Wing Gabrielsen
This dissertation comprises studies on thermoregulation
and energy expenditure in Arctic seabirds. It is based on the
following papers which are referred to in the text by their
Roman numerals:
I. Gabrielsen, G.W., Mehlum, F., Karlsen, H.E., Andresen,
0. & H. Parker. 1991. Energy cost during incubation
and thermoregulation in female Common Eider Somateria
mollissima. Norsk Polarinstitutt Skrifter 195:51-62.
11. Gabrielsen, G.W., Mehlum, F. & K.A. Nagy 1987. Daily
energy expenditure and energy utilization of free
ranging Black-legged Kittiwakes. Condor 89:126-132.
111. Gabrielsen, G.W., Mehlum, F. & H.E. Karlsen 1988.
Thermoregulation in four species of arctic seabirds.
J. Comp. Physiol. B. 157:703<708.
IV. Gabrielsen, G.W., Taylor, J.R.E., Konarzewski, M. &
F. Mehlum 1991. Field and laboratory metabolism and
thermoregulation in Dovekies (Alle alle). Auk 108:71-78.
V. Konarzewski, M., Taylor, J.R.E. & G.W. Gabrielsen 1993.
Energy requirements of Dovekie (Alle alle) chicks and
their contribution to energy expenditure of adults.
Auk 110:343-353.
VI. Mehlum, F., Gabrielsen, G.W. & K.A. Nagy 1993.
Energy expenditure by Black Guillemots (Cepphus grylle)
during chick-rearing. Colonial Waterbirds 16:45-52.
VII. Gabrielsen, G.W. 1994. Energy expenditure of breeding
Common Guillemots. Can. Wild. Ser. Occ. Papers.
(in press)