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Locomotor development in the Svalbard rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta hyperborea)

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Abstract

Juvenile animals often suffer from high levels of predation. Development of an effective and efficient locomotor system is therefore likely to be crucial towards ensuring their survival. However, our understanding of locomotor efficiency, at least in terms of energetic cost in young animals is poor. We performed this study as Svalbard rock ptarmigan, Lagopus muta hyperborea must rapidly develop the ability to locomote prior to the onset of their first winter, during which conditions are extreme. To aid survival, adult ptarmigan deposit large winter fat stores, whilst at the same time males exhibit a reduced metabolic cost of locomotion. Sub-adult males, however, are unable to fully acquire fat stores during their first winter and the maturity of their locomotor systems is unknown. Here, we investigate the energetics and kinematics of terrestrial locomotion in sub-adult male birds using flow-through respirometry and high-speed video recordings, respectively. We demonstrate that in terms of running speed and metabolic cost, sub-adult ptarmigan develop a mature functioning locomotor system prior to the onset of winter. This research indicates that achieving a mature locomotor system allows young males to emerge from the winter with the ability to compete for territories and mates during the breeding season.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Magnus Folkow, Hans Lian, Hans-Arne Solvang and John Ness for technical assistance and animal husbandry during these experiments. We would also like to acknowledge Robert Nudds for statistical advice. This research was funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council (BBSRC) (G01138/1) grant to J. Codd. J. Lees was supported by a Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) PhD doctoral training award.

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No conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise are declared by the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK

    John J. Lees & Jonathan R. Codd

  2. Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, University of Tromsö, 9037, Tromsö, Norway

    Karl-Arne Stokkan & Lars P. Folkow

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  1. John J. Lees
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  2. Karl-Arne Stokkan
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  3. Lars P. Folkow
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  4. Jonathan R. Codd
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Correspondence to Jonathan R. Codd.

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Lees, J.J., Stokkan, KA., Folkow, L.P. et al. Locomotor development in the Svalbard rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta hyperborea). Polar Biol 35, 867–874 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-011-1131-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-011-1131-x

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