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Heterothermy in growing king penguins
Götz Eichhorn1, René Groscolas, Gaële Le Glaunec
1Université de Strasbourg, IPHC-DEPE, 23 rue Becquerel, Strasbourg 67087, France. goetz.eichhorn@c-strasbourg.fr
Nature Communications
|August 18, 2011
Summary
King penguin chicks utilize facultative heterothermy, a controlled drop in body temperature, for energy savings during winter fasting. This adaptation is remarkable for such a large bird, enabling extended fasting periods.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Animal Ecology
- Thermoregulation
Background:
- Facultative heterothermy, a drop in body temperature for energy conservation, is typically observed in small endotherms.
- Large animals usually maintain a high, stable body temperature to support their metabolic demands.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the occurrence and characteristics of facultative heterothermy in king penguin chicks (Aptenodytes patagonicus).
- To determine the environmental and physiological factors influencing heterothermy in this large avian species.
- To understand the role of heterothermy in the fasting capacity of king penguin chicks.
Main Methods:
- Monitoring of body temperature in king penguin chicks during different seasons (winter fasting and spring refeeding).
- Analysis of the relationship between body temperature and environmental variables (air temperature, wind speed).
- Assessment of physiological state and its influence on heterothermic responses.
Main Results:
- King penguin chicks exhibit significant seasonal heterothermy during winter fasting, reducing body temperature to conserve energy.
- Short-term heterothermy, with temperatures below 20°C in the lower abdomen, occurs during spring refeeding.
- Air temperature and wind speed are key climate drivers, with their impact modulated by the chick's physiological state.
Conclusions:
- Facultative heterothermy is a crucial adaptation for king penguin chicks, enabling prolonged fasting during food scarcity.
- The ability to undergo heterothermy, even in a large bird, is linked to their exceptional fasting endurance.
- This study highlights a remarkable thermoregulatory strategy in a large avian species, challenging previous assumptions about heterothermy limits.
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