Brood patch temperature during provocation of common eiders in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard |
| |
| Authors: | Francois Criscuolo Michel Gauthier-Clerc Yvon Le Maho Geir W Gabrielsen |
| |
| Institution: | F. Criscuolo, M. Gauthier-Clerc &Y. Le Maho, Centre d'Ecologie et Physiologie Energetiques, CNRS, 23 rue Becquerel, 67087 Strasbourg Cedex 2;G. W. Gabrielsen, Norwegian Polar Institute, polar Envirnmentaltal Centre, N-9296 Tromsø, Norway. |
| |
| Abstract: | In this short note we describe the behaviour and body changes of three incubating female common eiders ( Somateria mollissima ) during provocation made by humans approaching the nest. The study site was near the settlement of Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard. Temperture transmitters were implanted subcutaneously at the brood patch and data recorded using a VHF receiver. We found that the female experiment exhibited a passive defence response ("freezing"), accompanied by a significant drop in brood patch temperature (0.6 °C) during provocation; this temperature drop lasted for 5 minutes. These accord with other studies of the physiological changes which the passive defence response in birds and other animals. |
| |
| Keywords: | |
|
|
