AVIS-IBIS

Birds of Indian Subcontinent

BODY TEMPERATURE AND ACTIVITY PATTERNS OF FREE-LIVING LAUGHING KOOKABURRAS: THE LARGEST KINGFISHER IS HETEROTHERMIC (Temperatura Corporal y Patrones de Actividad de Individuos Silvestres de Dacelo novaeguineae: El Martín Pescador de Mayor Tamaño es Hete

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:2008
Authors:COOPER, CHRISTINEE, Körtner, G, BRIGHAM, MARK, Geiser, F
Journal:The Condor
Volume:110
Issue:1
Date Published:2008
ISBN Number:00105422
Keywords:Alcedinidae, Alcedo, Alcedo atthis, Atthis, Dacelo, Dacelo gigas, Dacelo novaeguineae
Abstract:Abstract We show that free-ranging Laughing Kookaburras (Dacelo novaeguineae), the largest kingfishers, are heterothermic. Their minimum recorded body temperature (Tb) was 28.6°C, and the maximum daily Tb range was 9.1°C, which makes kookaburras only the second coraciiform species and the only member of the Alcedinidae known to be heterothermic. The amplitude of nocturnal body temperature variation for wild, free-living kookaburras during winter was substantially greater than the mean of 2.6°C measured previously for captive kookaburras. Calculated metabolic savings from nocturnal heterothermia were up to 5.6 ± 0.9 kJ per night. There was little effect of ambient temperature on any of the calculated Tb-dependent variables for the kookaburras, although ambient temperature did influence the time that activity commenced for these diurnal birds. Kookaburras used endogenous metabolic heat production to rewarm from low Tb, rather than relying on passive rewarming. Rewarming rates (0.05 ± 0.01°C min−1) were consistent with those of other avian species. Captivity can have major effects on thermoregulation for birds, and therefore the importance of field studies of wild, free-living individuals is paramount for understanding the biology of avian temperature regulation.
URL:http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1525/cond.2008.110.1.110
Short Title:The Condor
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith