Seals like it hot: Changes in surface temperature of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) from late pregnancy to moult

The annual moult in harbour seals (Phoca vitulina L.) follows a few weeks after the end of lactation and is characterised by a progressive loss and regrowth of hair which is apparent over a 4-6 week period. It is thought that during the moult harbour seals increase the time spent ashore as an adapta...

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Published in:Journal of Thermal Biology
Main Authors: Paterson, W., Sparling, C. E., Thompson, D., Pomeroy, P. P., Currie, J. I., McCafferty, D. J.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2012
Subjects:
Online Access:https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/en/researchoutput/seals-like-it-hot-changes-in-surface-temperature-of-harbour-seals-phoca-vitulina-from-late-pregnancy-to-moult(665187fe-3ca1-4273-93b1-07746b6dad2b).html
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2012.03.004
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spelling ftunstandrewcris:oai:research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk:publications/665187fe-3ca1-4273-93b1-07746b6dad2b 2024-06-23T07:56:11+00:00 Seals like it hot: Changes in surface temperature of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) from late pregnancy to moult Paterson, W. Sparling, C. E. Thompson, D. Pomeroy, P. P. Currie, J. I. McCafferty, D. J. 2012-10 https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/en/researchoutput/seals-like-it-hot-changes-in-surface-temperature-of-harbour-seals-phoca-vitulina-from-late-pregnancy-to-moult(665187fe-3ca1-4273-93b1-07746b6dad2b).html https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2012.03.004 eng eng https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/en/researchoutput/seals-like-it-hot-changes-in-surface-temperature-of-harbour-seals-phoca-vitulina-from-late-pregnancy-to-moult(665187fe-3ca1-4273-93b1-07746b6dad2b).html info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess Paterson , W , Sparling , C E , Thompson , D , Pomeroy , P P , Currie , J I & McCafferty , D J 2012 , ' Seals like it hot: Changes in surface temperature of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) from late pregnancy to moult ' , Journal of Thermal Biology , vol. 37 , no. 6 , pp. 454-461 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2012.03.004 article 2012 ftunstandrewcris https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2012.03.004 2024-06-13T00:36:41Z The annual moult in harbour seals (Phoca vitulina L.) follows a few weeks after the end of lactation and is characterised by a progressive loss and regrowth of hair which is apparent over a 4-6 week period. It is thought that during the moult harbour seals increase the time spent ashore as an adaptation to avoid additional energy costs associated with blood flow to the skin surface. The aim of this study was to determine the extent to which harbour seals regulated their surface temperature in order to maximise hair regrowth during the moult. The surface temperatures of two female harbour seals were recorded in captivity from late pregnancy to completion of the moult using infrared thermography. In this study, animals hauled out (exited the water onto land) more frequently during lactation and throughout the moult. Compared to the premoult period the temperature difference between body surface and air temperature (d (T) over bar) showed a similar to 10 degrees C elevation at the peak of the moult. Also, during the moult d (T) over bar reached a higher maximum at a faster rate over a two hour haul-out period. Heat loss was estimated to increase during the moult and was equivalent to an approximate doubling of resting metabolic rate. It was therefore evident that harbour seals minimise the energetic cost of the moult by hauling out so that they can maintain optimal high skin surface temperature for hair growth. Human disturbance at haul-out sites that causes animals to enter the water during the moult may have consequences for harbour seals for two reasons. Firstly, reduced time spent ashore in optimal conditions for hair regeneration may prolong the duration of the moult and secondly, repeatedly forcing animals into the water when their skin temperature is high will incur an energetic cost. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Article in Journal/Newspaper Phoca vitulina University of St Andrews: Research Portal Journal of Thermal Biology 37 6 454 461
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collection University of St Andrews: Research Portal
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language English
description The annual moult in harbour seals (Phoca vitulina L.) follows a few weeks after the end of lactation and is characterised by a progressive loss and regrowth of hair which is apparent over a 4-6 week period. It is thought that during the moult harbour seals increase the time spent ashore as an adaptation to avoid additional energy costs associated with blood flow to the skin surface. The aim of this study was to determine the extent to which harbour seals regulated their surface temperature in order to maximise hair regrowth during the moult. The surface temperatures of two female harbour seals were recorded in captivity from late pregnancy to completion of the moult using infrared thermography. In this study, animals hauled out (exited the water onto land) more frequently during lactation and throughout the moult. Compared to the premoult period the temperature difference between body surface and air temperature (d (T) over bar) showed a similar to 10 degrees C elevation at the peak of the moult. Also, during the moult d (T) over bar reached a higher maximum at a faster rate over a two hour haul-out period. Heat loss was estimated to increase during the moult and was equivalent to an approximate doubling of resting metabolic rate. It was therefore evident that harbour seals minimise the energetic cost of the moult by hauling out so that they can maintain optimal high skin surface temperature for hair growth. Human disturbance at haul-out sites that causes animals to enter the water during the moult may have consequences for harbour seals for two reasons. Firstly, reduced time spent ashore in optimal conditions for hair regeneration may prolong the duration of the moult and secondly, repeatedly forcing animals into the water when their skin temperature is high will incur an energetic cost. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
format Article in Journal/Newspaper
author Paterson, W.
Sparling, C. E.
Thompson, D.
Pomeroy, P. P.
Currie, J. I.
McCafferty, D. J.
spellingShingle Paterson, W.
Sparling, C. E.
Thompson, D.
Pomeroy, P. P.
Currie, J. I.
McCafferty, D. J.
Seals like it hot: Changes in surface temperature of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) from late pregnancy to moult
author_facet Paterson, W.
Sparling, C. E.
Thompson, D.
Pomeroy, P. P.
Currie, J. I.
McCafferty, D. J.
author_sort Paterson, W.
title Seals like it hot: Changes in surface temperature of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) from late pregnancy to moult
title_short Seals like it hot: Changes in surface temperature of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) from late pregnancy to moult
title_full Seals like it hot: Changes in surface temperature of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) from late pregnancy to moult
title_fullStr Seals like it hot: Changes in surface temperature of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) from late pregnancy to moult
title_full_unstemmed Seals like it hot: Changes in surface temperature of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) from late pregnancy to moult
title_sort seals like it hot: changes in surface temperature of harbour seals (phoca vitulina) from late pregnancy to moult
publishDate 2012
url https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/en/researchoutput/seals-like-it-hot-changes-in-surface-temperature-of-harbour-seals-phoca-vitulina-from-late-pregnancy-to-moult(665187fe-3ca1-4273-93b1-07746b6dad2b).html
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2012.03.004
genre Phoca vitulina
genre_facet Phoca vitulina
op_source Paterson , W , Sparling , C E , Thompson , D , Pomeroy , P P , Currie , J I & McCafferty , D J 2012 , ' Seals like it hot: Changes in surface temperature of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) from late pregnancy to moult ' , Journal of Thermal Biology , vol. 37 , no. 6 , pp. 454-461 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2012.03.004
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