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Accelerometry estimates field metabolic rate in giant Australian cuttlefish Sepia apama during breeding
Author(s) -
Payne Nicholas L.,
Gillanders Bronwyn M.,
Seymour Roger S.,
Webber Dale M.,
Snelling Edward P.,
Semmens Jayson M.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of animal ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.134
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1365-2656
pISSN - 0021-8790
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2656.2010.01758.x
Subject(s) - cuttlefish , sepia , respirometry , biology , energy expenditure , metabolic rate , ecology , doubly labeled water , accelerometer , cephalopod , anostraca , range (aeronautics) , boldness , fishery , zoology , crustacean , psychology , social psychology , biochemistry , botany , personality , officinalis , computer science , endocrinology , operating system , branchiopoda , cladocera , materials science , composite material
Summary 1. Estimating the metabolic rate of animals in nature is central to understanding the physiological, behavioural and evolutionary ecology of animals. Doubly labelled water and heart‐rate methods are the most commonly used approaches, but both have limitations that preclude their application to some systems. 2. Accelerometry has emerged as a powerful tool for estimating energy expenditure in a range of animals, but is yet to be used to estimate field metabolic rate in aquatic taxa. We combined two‐dimensional accelerometry and swim‐tunnel respirometry to estimate patterns of energy expenditure in giant Australian cuttlefish Sepia apama during breeding. 3. Both oxygen consumption rate () and swimming speed showed strong positive associations with body acceleration, with coefficients of determination comparable to those using similar accelerometers on terrestrial vertebrates. Despite increased activity during the day, field metabolic rate rarely approached , and night‐time was similar to that at rest. 4. These results are consistent with the life‐history strategy of this species, which has a poor capacity to exercise anaerobically, and a mating strategy that is visually based. With the logistical difficulties associated with observation in aquatic environments, accelerometry is likely to prove a valuable tool for estimating energy expenditure in aquatic animals.