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Belly-soaking: a behavioural solution to reduce excess body heat in the Kentish plover Charadrius alexandrinus

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Abstract

During nesting, many temperate and tropical shorebirds are exposed to direct solar radiation and face heat stress. The aim of our study was to determine whether belly-soaking (wetting of ventral plumage) contributes to reducing excess body heat in Kentish plovers Charadrius alexandrinus. We captured incubating plovers on sunny days at their exposed nests, and placed them inside cloth bags at ground level in exposed sites for 5 min. This produced an increase in the ambient temperature experienced by the plovers, as well as an increase in the body temperature of the plovers. We simulated belly-soaking by submerging the ventral parts in water for about 10 s immediately after removing the birds from the bag. The body temperature of the plovers was lowered after simulated belly-soaking. Our results indicate that belly-soaking is a behavioural strategy to quickly reduce body temperature in heat-stressed plovers.

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Acknowledgments

This study was financially supported by Dirección General de Investigación Científica y Técnica (research grant PB95-0110). Field work was authorized by Consejería de Medio Ambiente, Junta de Andalucía, which also provided accommodation. We thank A. Arroyo, R. Camarena, J. M. Ramírez, M. Rendón-Martos, J. Rubio and M. Vázquez for their help during field work, as well as two anonymous referees for their comments on a previous version. During manuscript preparation, we were funded by Dirección General de Investigación with EU-ERDF support (research grant CGL2005-01136/BOS).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Wetland Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Apartado 1056, 41080, Sevilla, Spain

    Juan A. Amat

  2. Grupo de Investigación en Biología de la Conservación, Área de Zoología, Universidad de Extremadura, Avda de Elvas s/n, 06071, Badajoz, Spain

    José A. Masero

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  1. Juan A. Amat
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  2. José A. Masero
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Correspondence to Juan A. Amat.

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Amat, J.A., Masero, J.A. Belly-soaking: a behavioural solution to reduce excess body heat in the Kentish plover Charadrius alexandrinus . J Ethol 27, 507–510 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10164-008-0139-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10164-008-0139-3

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