Swim speed of free‐ranging Adélie penguins Pygoscelis adeliae and its relation to the maximum depth of dives

Swim speed and depth utilization were recorded at a sampling rate of 1 Hz in 14 free-ranging Adelie penguins in Adelie Land, Antarctica during the austral summers of 1996/1997 and 1998/ 1999. The average swim speeds during the descent, bottom and ascent phases of dives were independent of the maximum depth, while the variability in swim speed decreased with increasing maximum depth, reflecting the physiological constraints of diving. Descent speed, which varied less with maximum depth than speeds measured during other parts of dives, was significantly different among birds. In addition to the speed analysis, a new category of dive profiles with a flat bottom phase and an extremely reduced swim speed is reported. The probable benthic nature of such dives is discussed.

[1]  Yan Ropert-Coudert,et al.  Rush and grab strategies in foraging marine endotherms: the case for haste in penguins , 2002, Animal Behaviour.

[2]  Yasuhiko Naito,et al.  Feeding strategies of free-ranging Adélie penguins Pygoscelis adeliae analysed by multiple data recording , 2001, Polar Biology.

[3]  C. Bost,et al.  Benthic diving in male emperor penguins Aptenodytes forsteri foraging in winter , 2000 .

[4]  Y. Cherel,et al.  Benthic and pelagic dives: a new foraging behaviour in rockhopper penguins , 2000 .

[5]  Y. Naito,et al.  DIVING BEHAVIOR AND SWIMMING SPEED OF A FREE‐RANGING HARBOR PORPOISE, PHOCOENA PHOCOENA , 2000 .

[6]  R. Ligowski.  Benthic feeding by krill, Euphausia superba Dana, in coastal waters off West Antarctica and in Admiralty Bay, South Shetland Islands , 2000, Polar Biology.

[7]  Yasuhiko Naito,et al.  Preliminary investigations of prey pursuit and capture by king penguins at sea , 2000 .

[8]  K. Yoda,et al.  Precise monitoring of porpoising behaviour of Adélie penguins determined using acceleration data loggers. , 1999, The Journal of experimental biology.

[9]  T. Williams,et al.  The diving physiology of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). I. Balancing the demands of exercise for energy conservation at depth. , 1999, The Journal of experimental biology.

[10]  T. Williams,et al.  The diving physiology of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). II. Biomechanics and changes in buoyancy at depth. , 1999, The Journal of experimental biology.

[11]  S. B. Blackwell,et al.  A METHOD FOR CALIBRATING SWIM‐SPEED RECORDERS , 1999 .

[12]  C. Hull,et al.  The effect of carrying devices on breeding royal penguins , 1997 .

[13]  C. Bost,et al.  Diving energetics in king penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus). , 1996, The Journal of experimental biology.

[14]  I. Boyd,et al.  Swimming speed and allocation of time during the dive cycle in Antarctic fur seals , 1995, Animal Behaviour.

[15]  Wilson,et al.  UNDERWATER SWIMMING AT LOW ENERGETIC COST BY PYGOSCELID PENGUINS , 1994, The Journal of experimental biology.

[16]  Wilson,et al.  HYDRODYNAMIC ASPECTS OF DESIGN AND ATTACHMENT OF A BACK-MOUNTED DEVICE IN PENGUINS , 1994, The Journal of experimental biology.

[17]  Y. Naito,et al.  Euphausia superba dominates in the diet of Adélie penguins feeding under fast sea-ice in the shelf areas of Enderby Land in summer , 1994, Polar Biology.

[18]  L. S. Davis,et al.  Satellite tracking of Adélie penguins , 1992, Polar Biology.

[19]  Rory P. Wilson,et al.  Diving Birds in Cold Water: Do Archimedes and Boyle Determine Energetic Costs? , 1992, The American Naturalist.

[20]  Rory P. Wilson,et al.  SWIMMING ENERGETICS AND PERFORMANCE OF INSTRUMENTED ADELIE PENGUINS (PYGOSCELIS ADELIAE) , 1991 .

[21]  Rory P. Wilson,et al.  Foraging ranges of penguins , 1989, Polar Record.

[22]  G. W. Johnstone,et al.  The breeding season diet of Adélie penguins at the Vestfold Hills, East Antarctica , 1988, Hydrobiologia.

[23]  C. A. Hui,et al.  Penguin Swimming. I. Hydrodynamics , 1988, Physiological Zoology.

[24]  C. A. Hui.  Penguin Swimming. II. Energetics and Behavior , 1988, Physiological Zoology.

[25]  W. Trivelpiece,et al.  Foraging Behavior of Gentoo and Chinstrap Penguins as Determined by New Radiotelemetry Techniques , 1986 .

[26]  G L Kooyman,et al.  Diving depths and energy requirements of king penguins. , 1982, Science.

[27]  M. Harris,et al.  The Biology of Penguins , 1976 .

[28]  Gerald L. Kooyman,et al.  Diving Behavior of the Emperor Penguin, Aptenodytes forsteri , 1971 .

[29]  V. Ridoux,et al.  The diets of five summer breeding seabirds in Adélie Land, Antarctica , 2004, Polar Biology.

[30]  G. Kooyman.  Behaviour and Physiology of Diving , 1975 .