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Home ยป Flight Energetics of Free-Living Sooty Terns
Flight Energetics of Free-Living Sooty Terns
Publication Type: | Journal Article |
Year of Publication: | 1984 |
Authors: | Flint, EN, Nagy, KA |
Journal: | The Auk |
Volume: | 101 |
Issue: | 2 |
Date Published: | 1984 |
ISBN Number: | 00048038 |
Keywords: | Apodidae, Apus, Apus apus, Haliplana fuscata, Hirundinidae, Hirundo, Hirundo rustica, Laridae, Onychoprion, Onychoprion fuscata, Onychoprion fuscatus, Sterna, Sterna fuscata |
Abstract: | The CO2 production of free-ranging Sooty Terns (Sterna fuscata) was measured using doubly labeled water (HTO-18). Metabolic rate during flight was determined to be 4.8 times standard metabolic rate (SMR). This value is much lower than estimates of flight metabolism predicted from previously published equations. Observations of these birds at sea indicate that flapping flight predominated at the windspeeds (0-5 m/s) that prevailed during our measurement periods, so factors other than gliding must account for the comparatively low flight metabolism we measured. Sooty Tern flight metabolism is similar to that of some other birds, such as swallows and swifts, that also have high aspect ratios and low wing loadings. |
URL: | http://www.jstor.org/stable/4086367 |
Short Title: | The Auk |
Taxonomic name:
Apodidae (Birds),
Apus (Birds),
Apus apus (Birds),
Hirundinidae (Birds),
Hirundo (Birds),
Hirundo rustica (Birds),
Hirundo rustica (Birds),
Laridae (Birds),
Onychoprion (Birds),
Onychoprion fuscatus (Birds),
Sterna (Birds),
Sterna fuscata (Birds)
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical):
Ed Baker,
Katherine Bouton
Alice Heaton
Dimitris Koureas,
Laurence Livermore,
Dave Roberts,
Simon Rycroft,
Ben Scott,
Vince Smith