Laboratory Metabolism of Incubating Semipalmated Plovers

• Published in: The Condor
• Main Authors: Williamson, Mark, Williams, Joseph B., Nol, Erica
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford University Press (OUP) 2006
• Subjects: Animal Science and Zoology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Arctic; Canada; Churchill
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/condor/108.4.966; http://academic.oup.com/condor/article-pdf/108/4/966/29713735/condor0966.pdf

Abstract Abstract The Semipalmated Plover (Charadriussemipalmatus), anarctic-nesting migratory shorebird, regularlyencounters low temperatures during the breedingseason. We measured the basal metabolism of adultsduring incubation at Churchill, Manitoba, Canada todetermine basal metabolic rate (BMR),lower critical temperature(Tlc), total evaporative waterloss (TEWL), and dry thermal conductance(Cm). BMR and Tlcwere 47.4 kJ day−1and 23.3°C, respectively, TEWL was2.5 mL H2O−d,and Cm was1.13 mW g−1 °C−1.Measured BMR and Tlc were consistentwith high values found for other shorebird speciesbreeding in the Arctic, while Cm was18% higher than predicted from allometricequations. These metabolic data suggest thatSemipalmated Plovers are adapted to balance therequirements of incubation against energetic andthermoregulatory demands in the Arctic, especiallyin harsh early breeding season conditions.