Energetics of Reproduction and Foraging in Adelie Penguins

阿德利企鹅，Pygoscelis adeliae，是最丰富的 南极企鹅是南极洲的重要组成部分 海洋生态系统 繁殖生态、行为和温度 Adelies的生理学已经被各种各样的研究所广泛研究， 调查人员，但他们的生态和 生殖能量学还没有被描述。 在此前的NSF- 资助的研究，温度和天气的影响（例如，风 和阳光）对繁殖中温度调节的能量消耗的影响 阿德利企鹅和它们的雏鸟决心已定。 这样做的目的 研究的目的是测量能源消耗率和 身体组成的繁殖阿德利，并同时研究 它们的觅食行为 这将使我们能够确定 生殖努力。 双标记同位素技术 水（DLW）将用于确定能量通量和身体 组成，在整个繁殖季节的不同时间。 的 觅食期间潜水的行为、生理和能量学 将使用计算机化的时间深度记录器（TDR）对行程进行研究。 同时进行的DLW和TDR研究将提供以下信息： 觅食成本和觅食效率。 胃内容物分析 会揭示出这些鸟在吃什么 综合饮食信息 使用DLW测量将允许计算食物的比率， 消费，因此，繁殖阿德利的营养影响 周围的海洋生态系统。

Adelie penguins, Pygoscelis adeliae, are the most abundant of the Antarctic penguins and are important components of the Antarctic marine ecosystem. The breeding ecology, behavior, and thermal physiology of Adelies have been extensively studied by a variety of investigators, but many aspects of their ecological and reproductive energetics have not been described. In previous NSF- funded research, the effects of temperature and weather (e.g., wind and sunlight) on the energy costs of thermoregulation in breeding Adelies and their chicks were determined. The purpose of this research is to measure rates of energy consumption and changes in body composition in breeding Adelies, and to simultaneously study their foraging behavior. This will enable us to determine reproductive effort. The isotopic technique of doubly labeled water (DLW) will be used to determine both energy flux and body composition, at various times throughout the breeding season. The behavior, physiology, and energetics of diving during foraging trips will be studied with computerized time-depth recorders (TDR). Simultaneous DLW and TDR studies will provide information on foraging costs and foraging efficiency. Stomach content analysis will reveal what the birds are eating. Diet information combined with DLW measurements will allow calculation of rates of food consumption, and, hence, the trophic impact of breeding Adelies on the surrounding marine ecosystem.