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Journal of Experimental Biology 158,355-368 (1991)
Published by Company of Biologists 1991

Swimming Energetics and Performance of Instrumented Adélie Penguins (Pygoscelis Adeliae)

BORIS CULIK ¹ and RORY P. WILSON ¹

¹ Institut für Meereskunde Düsternbrooker Weg 20, D-2300 Kiel 1, Germany

The effects of implanted and of externally attached instruments (1.8% of body cross-sectional area) were studied on Adé1ie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) using a 21 m long canal in conjunction with respirometry at Esperanza Bay, Antarctica. Penguins in both groups covered the same mean distance (173 m in 5 min) as controls. Implanted birds preferred to swim at slower speeds (1.3–1.7 ms^-1) than did the controls (1.9–2.1 ms^-1), whereas penguins with external instruments had a bimodal speed distribution with maxima at 1.7–1.9 and 2.3–2.5 ms^-1. Power input during swimming averaged 20% less in implanted penguins (12.7 W kg^-1) and 42% more in penguins fitted with external instruments (22.5 W kg^-1) compared with controls (15.8 W kg^-1). Similarly, cost of transport was 23% lower in implanted penguins (7.0 J kg^-1 m^-1) and 25% higher in externally instrumented birds (11.3 J kg^-1 m^-1) compared with controls (9.0 J kg^-1 m^-1). Possible reasons for the effects caused by the devices are discussed and the advantages and disadvantages of implanted and externally fitted devices are compared.

Key words: birds, Pygoscelis adeliae, hydrodynamics, swimming, drag, implantation devices instruments, telemetry, energy, respirometry, power, polar, Antarctic, metabolic rate

Accepted on February 22, 1991

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