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Refeeding signal in fasting-incubating king penguins: changes in behavior and egg temperature
Centre d'Ecologie et Physiologie Energétiques, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 67087 Strasbourg Cedex, France This study is directed toward understanding the process of feeding stimulation ("refeeding signal") that has been suggested to operate below a body mass threshol...
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Published in: | American journal of physiology. Regulatory, integrative and comparative physiology integrative and comparative physiology, 2000-12, Vol.279 (6), p.2104-R2112 |
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Main Authors: | , , , , , |
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Subjects: | |
Citations: | Items that this one cites Items that cite this one |
Online Access: | Get full text |
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Summary: | Centre d'Ecologie et Physiologie Energétiques, Centre
National de la Recherche Scientifique, 67087 Strasbourg Cedex,
France
This study is directed toward
understanding the process of feeding stimulation ("refeeding
signal") that has been suggested to operate below a body mass
threshold or critical metabolic status in spontaneously fasting birds.
Behavior and egg temperature (T egg ) were continuously
monitored by video monitoring and biotelemetry, respectively, in
fasting-incubating king penguins kept in a pen to prevent relief by the
partner until spontaneous egg abandonment. Penned birds fasted 10 days
more and lost 1.2 kg more than birds relieved normally by their
partner, abandoning the egg about 1 wk after reaching a critical body
mass. Definitive egg abandonment was preceded by transitory
abandonments of progressively increasing duration during which time the
birds went further and further away from their egg. There were marked
interindividual differences but on average transitory abandonments
began 36 ± 5 h before the definitive abandonment and were
paralleled by resumption of display songs signaling the readiness of
the bird to depart for feeding. T egg was maintained at
around 35.7°C during normal incubation but significantly decreased
the last 2 days before egg abandonment. These changes are interpreted
as reflecting a stimulation to refeed at a threshold body mass
corresponding to a critical fat store depletion. Thus the
fasting-incubating king penguin appears to be an interesting animal
model for understanding the long-term metabolic control of feeding
behavior in relation to energy status.
feeding behavior; spontaneous fasting; incubation; fat stores; body
mass threshold; birds |
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ISSN: | 0363-6119 1522-1490 |
DOI: | 10.1152/ajpregu.2000.279.6.R2104 |