Physiology and Energetics of King and Emperor Penguins

这个研究项目解决了最近对帝企鹅和帝企鹅潜水行为的研究中出现的几个生理问题。最重要的是，这两个物种似乎都有一致的模式，即频繁、特别长、特别深的潜水。在自愿潜水时，帝企鹅是最适合测量与屏气极限和氧气管理有关的生理变量的物种。其中一些变量是肌肉和血氧水平以及血液化学。王企鹅最适合研究压缩对气体交换的影响。在模拟潜水至200米的过程中，一些测量将是血氧和氮含量。其他实验将确定潜水的能量输出，初生雏鸟潜水的形态和行为发展以及觅食成功的具体措施。这项工作的结果不仅与潜水生理学有关，而且还将构成理解极地生态系统中能量学和营养关系的基本要素。

This research project addresses several physiological problems that have emerged from recent studies of diving behavior in king and emperor penguins. Foremost is the seemingly consistent pattern of both species to make frequent, exceptionally long and deep dives. The emperor penguin is the most suitable species for measuring physiological variables related to breath-hold limits and oxygen management, while diving voluntarily. Some of these variables are muscle and blood oxygen levels and blood chemistry. The king penguin is most suitable for studies of the effects of compression on gas exchange. Some measurements will be blood oxygen and nitrogen contents during the course of simulated dives to 200 m. Other experiments will determine the energetic output of diving, the morphological and behavioral development of diving of incipient fledglings and specific measures of foraging success. The results of this work will be relevant not only to diving physiology, but will also comprise an essential element in understanding energetics and trophic relationships in the polar ecosystem.