Physiological Response to Feeding in Little Penguins
Date
2006
Authors
Green, J. A.
Frappell, Peter Brian
Clark, Timothy Darren
Butler, P. J.
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Journal article
Citation
Physiological and Biochemical Zoology, 2006; 79(6):1088-1097
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Abstract
Specific dynamic action (SDA), the increase in metabolic rate above resting levels that accompanies the processes of digestion and assimilation of food, can form a substantial part of the daily energy budget of free-ranging animals. We measured heart rate (fH) and rate of oxygen consumption ( ) in 12 little penguins while they digested a meal of sardines in order to determine whether they show specific dynamic action. In contrast to some studies of other penguin species, little penguins showed a substantial SDA, the magnitude of which was proportional to the size of the meal. The energy utilized in SDA was equivalent to 13.4% of the available energy content of the fish. Furthermore, animals such as penguins that forage in a cold environment will probably expend further energy in heating their food to body temperature to facilitate efficient digestion. It is estimated that this additional energy expenditure was equivalent to 1.6%-2.3% of the available energy content of the fish, depending on the time of year and therefore the temperature of the water. Changes in fH during digestion were qualitatively similar to those in , implying that there were no substantial circulatory adjustments during digestion and that the relationship between fH and in penguins is unaffected by digestive state.
School/Discipline
School of Earth and Environmental Sciences
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© 2006 by The University of Chicago.