Summary
At low air temperatures (2.3–13.9°C), Wedge-tailed Shearwaters (Puffinus pacificus) shivered and their oxygen consumption increased to as much as 283% of the mean value (0.77 ml O2/g·h) within the thermoneutral zone of air temperature (23–34°C). The minimal thermal conductance of the tissues and plumage was similar to the value predicted from the body mass (320.5 g). The oxygen consumption of the birds within their thermoneutral zone was lower than predictions based on body mass. At elevated air temperatures, the shearwaters panted at respiratory frequencies as high as 260 respirations/min; maximal respiratory frequencies were not invoked until the birds had become hyperthermic. During exposure to a hot environment, the oxygen consumption of the birds increased and in most instances the shearwaters were not able to lose heat equivalent to their concurrent metabolic heat production.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- BMR :
-
basal metabolic rate
- C total :
-
total thermal conductance
- f :
-
respiratory frequency
- TEWL :
-
total evaporative water loss
- T st :
-
stomach temperature
- T re :
-
rectal temperature
References
Ackerman RA, Whittow GC, Paganelli CV, Pettit TN (1980) Oxygen consumption, gas exchange, and growth of embryonic Wedge-tailed Shearwaters (Puffinus pacificus chlororhynchus). Physiol Zool 53:210–221
Adams NJ, Brown CR (1984) Metabolic rates of sub-Antarctic Procellariiformes: a comparative study. Comp Biochem Physiol 77A:169–173
Aschoff J, Pohl H (1970a) Rhythmic variations in energy metabolism. Fed Proc 29:1541–1552
Aschoff J, Pohl H (1970b) Der Ruheumsatz von Vögeln als Funktion der Tageszeit und der Körpergröße. J Ornithol (Leipzig) 11:38–47
Bech C, Brent R, Pedersen PF, Rasmussen JG, Johansen K (1982) Temperature regulation in chicks of the Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinus. Ornis Scand 13:206–210
Brown CR, Adams NJ (1984) Basal metabolic rate and energy expenditure during incubation in the Wandering Albatross (Diomedea exulans). Condor 86:182–186
Calder WA, King JR (1974) Thermal and caloric relations of birds. In: Farner DS, King JR (eds) Avian Biology, vol 4. Academic Press, New York, pp 259–413
Dawson WR (1982) Evaporative losses of water by birds. Comp Biochem Physiol 71A:495–509
Ellis HI (1984) Energetics of free-ranging seabirds. In: Whittow GC, Rahn H (eds) Seabird Energetics. Plenum Press, New York, pp 203–234
Howell TR, Bartholomew GA (1961) Temperature regulation in nesting Bonin Island Petrels, Wedge-tailed Shearwaters, and Christmas Island Shearwaters. Auk 78:343–354
Lasiewski RC, Dawson WR (1967) A re-examination of the relation between standard metabolic rate and body weight in birds. Condor 69:13–23
Macmillen RE, Whittow GC, Christopher EA, Ebisu RJ (1977) Oxygen consumption, evaporative water loss, and body temperature in the Sooty Tern. Auk 94:72–79
McNab BK (1979) The influence of body size on the energetics and distribution of fossorial and burrowing mammals. Ecology 60:1010–1021
Pettit TN, Ellis HI, Whittow GC (1985) Basal metabolic rate of tropical seabirds. Auk 102:172–174
Rahn H, Whittow GC (1984) Introduction. In: Whittow GC, Rahn H (eds) Seabird Energetics. Plenum Press, New York, pp 1–32
Warham J (1971) Body temperatures of petrels. Condor 73:214–219
Weathers WW (1981) Physiological thermoregulation in heat-stressed birds: consequences of body size. Physiol Zool 54:345–361
Whittow GC (1986) Regulation of body temperature. In: Sturkie PD (ed) Avian Physiology, 4th edn. Springer, New York Berlin Heidelberg
Whittow GC, Ackerman RA, Paganelli CV, Pettit TN (1982) Pre-pipping water loss from the eggs of the Wedge-tailed Shearwater. Comp Biochem Physiol 72A:29–34
Withers PC (1977) Measurement of\(\dot V_{O_2 } ,{\text{ }}\dot V_{CO_2 } \), and evaporative water loss with a flow-through mask. J Appl Physiol 42:120–123
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Whittow, G.C., Pettit, T.N., Ackerman, R.A. et al. Temperature regulation in a burrow-nesting tropical seabird, the Wedge-tailed Shearwater (Puffinus pacificus). J Comp Physiol B 157, 607–614 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00700981
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00700981