Thermal Insulation of the Down and Feathers of Pygoscelid Penguin Chicks and the Unique Properties of Penguin Feathers
Abstract The thermal insulation of the down and feathers of Chinstrap (Pygoscelis antarctica) and Gentoo (P. papua) penguin chicks was measured throughout development in still air and in wind parallel and perpendicular to the plumage. Insulation increased with age. Whole-body insulation of chicks me...
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Oxford University Press (OUP)
1986
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/auk/103.1.160 http://academic.oup.com/auk/article-pdf/103/1/160/30081027/auk0160.pdf |
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croxfordunivpr:10.1093/auk/103.1.160 2024-01-14T10:02:26+01:00 Thermal Insulation of the Down and Feathers of Pygoscelid Penguin Chicks and the Unique Properties of Penguin Feathers Taylor, Jan R. E. 1986 http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/auk/103.1.160 http://academic.oup.com/auk/article-pdf/103/1/160/30081027/auk0160.pdf en eng Oxford University Press (OUP) The Auk volume 103, issue 1, page 160-168 ISSN 0004-8038 1938-4254 Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics journal-article 1986 croxfordunivpr https://doi.org/10.1093/auk/103.1.160 2023-12-15T09:29:41Z Abstract The thermal insulation of the down and feathers of Chinstrap (Pygoscelis antarctica) and Gentoo (P. papua) penguin chicks was measured throughout development in still air and in wind parallel and perpendicular to the plumage. Insulation increased with age. Whole-body insulation of chicks measured in still air (body core to environment) was significantly correlated with the insulation of their pelts at a given age. The insulation of the downy pelts of 10- and 15-day-old chicks was significantly lower than that of all older chicks, and explains the dependence of chicks of that age on continuous brooding by parents, despite their high thermogenic capacities. The down of older chicks provided good insulation in wind speeds of 3-5 m/s. With no wind, the down of Gentoos immediately before molting was a better insulator than feathers of prefledged chicks. The insulation of the feathers of prefledged chicks in parallel air flow up to 5 m/s was 87-112% of its value in still air. However, the insulation increased at higher wind speeds; in Gentoo pelts at winds of 15 m/s, it averaged 136% (maximum 179%) of the insulation in still air. Increasing insulative values of feathers or fur under increasing wind speeds have not been demonstrated previously in any bird or mammal. The insulation of down at various wind speeds and micrometeorological data from the Gentoo Penguin rookery on King George Island, Antarctica were compared. It follows that heat loss of older downy Gentoo chicks is not affected significantly by wind. These chicks can remain within their thermoneutral zones on windy days. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctica Gentoo penguin King George Island Pygoscelis antarctica Oxford University Press (via Crossref) King George Island The Auk 103 1 160 168 |
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Open Polar |
collection |
Oxford University Press (via Crossref) |
op_collection_id |
croxfordunivpr |
language |
English |
topic |
Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics |
spellingShingle |
Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics Taylor, Jan R. E. Thermal Insulation of the Down and Feathers of Pygoscelid Penguin Chicks and the Unique Properties of Penguin Feathers |
topic_facet |
Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics |
description |
Abstract The thermal insulation of the down and feathers of Chinstrap (Pygoscelis antarctica) and Gentoo (P. papua) penguin chicks was measured throughout development in still air and in wind parallel and perpendicular to the plumage. Insulation increased with age. Whole-body insulation of chicks measured in still air (body core to environment) was significantly correlated with the insulation of their pelts at a given age. The insulation of the downy pelts of 10- and 15-day-old chicks was significantly lower than that of all older chicks, and explains the dependence of chicks of that age on continuous brooding by parents, despite their high thermogenic capacities. The down of older chicks provided good insulation in wind speeds of 3-5 m/s. With no wind, the down of Gentoos immediately before molting was a better insulator than feathers of prefledged chicks. The insulation of the feathers of prefledged chicks in parallel air flow up to 5 m/s was 87-112% of its value in still air. However, the insulation increased at higher wind speeds; in Gentoo pelts at winds of 15 m/s, it averaged 136% (maximum 179%) of the insulation in still air. Increasing insulative values of feathers or fur under increasing wind speeds have not been demonstrated previously in any bird or mammal. The insulation of down at various wind speeds and micrometeorological data from the Gentoo Penguin rookery on King George Island, Antarctica were compared. It follows that heat loss of older downy Gentoo chicks is not affected significantly by wind. These chicks can remain within their thermoneutral zones on windy days. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Taylor, Jan R. E. |
author_facet |
Taylor, Jan R. E. |
author_sort |
Taylor, Jan R. E. |
title |
Thermal Insulation of the Down and Feathers of Pygoscelid Penguin Chicks and the Unique Properties of Penguin Feathers |
title_short |
Thermal Insulation of the Down and Feathers of Pygoscelid Penguin Chicks and the Unique Properties of Penguin Feathers |
title_full |
Thermal Insulation of the Down and Feathers of Pygoscelid Penguin Chicks and the Unique Properties of Penguin Feathers |
title_fullStr |
Thermal Insulation of the Down and Feathers of Pygoscelid Penguin Chicks and the Unique Properties of Penguin Feathers |
title_full_unstemmed |
Thermal Insulation of the Down and Feathers of Pygoscelid Penguin Chicks and the Unique Properties of Penguin Feathers |
title_sort |
thermal insulation of the down and feathers of pygoscelid penguin chicks and the unique properties of penguin feathers |
publisher |
Oxford University Press (OUP) |
publishDate |
1986 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/auk/103.1.160 http://academic.oup.com/auk/article-pdf/103/1/160/30081027/auk0160.pdf |
geographic |
King George Island |
geographic_facet |
King George Island |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctica Gentoo penguin King George Island Pygoscelis antarctica |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctica Gentoo penguin King George Island Pygoscelis antarctica |
op_source |
The Auk volume 103, issue 1, page 160-168 ISSN 0004-8038 1938-4254 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1093/auk/103.1.160 |
container_title |
The Auk |
container_volume |
103 |
container_issue |
1 |
container_start_page |
160 |
op_container_end_page |
168 |
_version_ |
1788057455794585600 |