Metabolic cost of incubation in the Laysan albatross and Bonin petrel

Incubation energetics of the Laysan Albatross

“…The value obtained in the present study for incubating birds was identical to that reported by Grant and Whittow (1983) for albatross that were at rest but not incubating an egg.…”

“…Thus, it can be concluded from the present results, and those of Grant and Whittow (1983), that the metabolic rate of incubating Laysan Albatross, even under cloudy skies, is not greater than that of resting birds that are not incubating. In this respect, the Laysan Albatross appears to differ from the Wandering Albatross, the Grey-headed Albatross and the Black-browed Albatross (Diomedea melanophris), in which the metabolic rate of incubating birds is higher than that of resting birds (Prince et al 1981 ;Croxall and Ricketts 1983;Brown and Adams 1984).…”

Incubation energetics of the Laysan Albatross

“…The value obtained in the present study for incubating birds was identical to that reported by Grant and Whittow (1983) for albatross that were at rest but not incubating an egg.…”

“…Thus, it can be concluded from the present results, and those of Grant and Whittow (1983), that the metabolic rate of incubating Laysan Albatross, even under cloudy skies, is not greater than that of resting birds that are not incubating. In this respect, the Laysan Albatross appears to differ from the Wandering Albatross, the Grey-headed Albatross and the Black-browed Albatross (Diomedea melanophris), in which the metabolic rate of incubating birds is higher than that of resting birds (Prince et al 1981 ;Croxall and Ricketts 1983;Brown and Adams 1984).…”

Energy Expenditure in Arctic Seabirds

“…Gessaman & Findell (1979) concluded that incubation in American Kestrels could be accomplished at the level of adult resting metabolism due partly to embryonic heat production and nest insulation. Our study; as well as previous studies on incubating penguins Groscolas 1988), albatrosses (Grant & Whittow 1983;Pettit et al 1988) and petrels (Grant & Whittow 1983), supports contention that the metabolic rate of a bird at rest can supply all the heat required for incubation, at least in some species.…”

“…Small birds often have limited resistance to starvation and leave the nest periodically to forage. Recently, studies of larger birds that tolerate periods of fasting and show high nest attendance have revealed incubation costs similar to or lower than RMR or non-incubating individuals (Grant & Whittow 1983;Grant 1984; Groscolas 1988;Pettit et al 1988). Metabolic measurements of incubating Eiders within the thermoneutral zone in our study indicated the energy cost during incubation to be similar to or slightly lower than RMR of non-incubating birds.…”

Energetics of Breeding Dark-Rumped Petrels

“…Direct observations indicate that adult petrels spend approximately 95% of their incubation shifts sleeping , and this behavior may permit the extremely long incubation shifts characteristic of the species. Grant and Whittow (1983) found that the rate of oxygen uptake in incubating adult Bonin Petrels (Pterodroma hypoleuca) was 18% less than the resting rate recorded in the laboratory. They also found that the respiratory quotient (RQ) of incubating Bonin Petrels was approximately 0.7 and they concluded from this that the birds were metabolizing fat.…”

Incubation energetics of the Laysan Albatross

“…The value obtained in the present study for incubating birds was identical to that reported by Grant and Whittow (1983) for albatross that were at rest but not incubating an egg.…”

“…Thus, it can be concluded from the present results, and those of Grant and Whittow (1983), that the metabolic rate of incubating Laysan Albatross, even under cloudy skies, is not greater than that of resting birds that are not incubating. In this respect, the Laysan Albatross appears to differ from the Wandering Albatross, the Grey-headed Albatross and the Black-browed Albatross (Diomedea melanophris), in which the metabolic rate of incubating birds is higher than that of resting birds (Prince et al 1981 ;Croxall and Ricketts 1983;Brown and Adams 1984).…”

Energy Expenditure in Arctic Seabirds

“…Gessaman & Findell (1979) concluded that incubation in American Kestrels could be accomplished at the level of adult resting metabolism due partly to embryonic heat production and nest insulation. Our study; as well as previous studies on incubating penguins Groscolas 1988), albatrosses (Grant & Whittow 1983;Pettit et al 1988) and petrels (Grant & Whittow 1983), supports contention that the metabolic rate of a bird at rest can supply all the heat required for incubation, at least in some species.…”

“…Small birds often have limited resistance to starvation and leave the nest periodically to forage. Recently, studies of larger birds that tolerate periods of fasting and show high nest attendance have revealed incubation costs similar to or lower than RMR or non-incubating individuals (Grant & Whittow 1983;Grant 1984; Groscolas 1988;Pettit et al 1988). Metabolic measurements of incubating Eiders within the thermoneutral zone in our study indicated the energy cost during incubation to be similar to or slightly lower than RMR of non-incubating birds.…”

Energetics of Breeding Dark-Rumped Petrels

“…Direct observations indicate that adult petrels spend approximately 95% of their incubation shifts sleeping , and this behavior may permit the extremely long incubation shifts characteristic of the species. Grant and Whittow (1983) found that the rate of oxygen uptake in incubating adult Bonin Petrels (Pterodroma hypoleuca) was 18% less than the resting rate recorded in the laboratory. They also found that the respiratory quotient (RQ) of incubating Bonin Petrels was approximately 0.7 and they concluded from this that the birds were metabolizing fat.…”

Incubation energetics of the Laysan Albatross

“…The value obtained in the present study for incubating birds was identical to that reported by Grant and Whittow (1983) for albatross that were at rest but not incubating an egg.…”

“…Thus, it can be concluded from the present results, and those of Grant and Whittow (1983), that the metabolic rate of incubating Laysan Albatross, even under cloudy skies, is not greater than that of resting birds that are not incubating. In this respect, the Laysan Albatross appears to differ from the Wandering Albatross, the Grey-headed Albatross and the Black-browed Albatross (Diomedea melanophris), in which the metabolic rate of incubating birds is higher than that of resting birds (Prince et al 1981 ;Croxall and Ricketts 1983;Brown and Adams 1984).…”

Energy Expenditure in Arctic Seabirds

“…Gessaman & Findell (1979) concluded that incubation in American Kestrels could be accomplished at the level of adult resting metabolism due partly to embryonic heat production and nest insulation. Our study; as well as previous studies on incubating penguins Groscolas 1988), albatrosses (Grant & Whittow 1983;Pettit et al 1988) and petrels (Grant & Whittow 1983), supports contention that the metabolic rate of a bird at rest can supply all the heat required for incubation, at least in some species.…”

“…Small birds often have limited resistance to starvation and leave the nest periodically to forage. Recently, studies of larger birds that tolerate periods of fasting and show high nest attendance have revealed incubation costs similar to or lower than RMR or non-incubating individuals (Grant & Whittow 1983;Grant 1984; Groscolas 1988;Pettit et al 1988). Metabolic measurements of incubating Eiders within the thermoneutral zone in our study indicated the energy cost during incubation to be similar to or slightly lower than RMR of non-incubating birds.…”

Energetics of Breeding Dark-Rumped Petrels

“…Direct observations indicate that adult petrels spend approximately 95% of their incubation shifts sleeping , and this behavior may permit the extremely long incubation shifts characteristic of the species. Grant and Whittow (1983) found that the rate of oxygen uptake in incubating adult Bonin Petrels (Pterodroma hypoleuca) was 18% less than the resting rate recorded in the laboratory. They also found that the respiratory quotient (RQ) of incubating Bonin Petrels was approximately 0.7 and they concluded from this that the birds were metabolizing fat.…”