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Effect of Wind on Field Metabolic Rates of Breeding Northern Fulmars
Author(s) -
Furness Robert W.,
Bryant David M.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.2307/2265587
Subject(s) - ecology , range (aeronautics) , atmospheric sciences , nest (protein structural motif) , biology , basal metabolic rate , bycatch , environmental science , zoology , physics , fishing , biochemistry , materials science , composite material
The field metabolic rate (FMR) of nesting Northern Fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis) was measured using the doubly labeled water technique. Although some labeled Northern Fulmars showed marked differences in behavior compared to controls. FMR did not change correspondingly. At—sea FMR averaged 1444 kJ/d, equivalent to 4.5 X basal metabolic rate (BMR). As a multiple of BMR it was independent of sex, wing length, body mass, mass change, and duration of the period at sea, but was strongly dependent on wind speed, being higher during slack winds. There was also a trend for higher wingbeat frequency at winds to low for sustained dynamic soaring. The high energetic cost of flapping flight during windless conditions may explain patterns of nest attendance: in particular, why nest site attendance by Northern Fulmars in winter is greater during calm weather. Lack of wind might limit the breeding range of this species and other Procellariiformes with high flapping—flight costs.