Biochemical adaptations to diving in the common murre,Uria aalge, and the Atlantic puffin,Fratercula arctica

Abstract To compare the metabolic systems that support the combination of flying and diving with those used to support burst flying and sustained flying, myoglobin concentrations and maximum enzyme activities were determined for selected enzymes of glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and amino acid metabolism in the pectoral, supracoracoideus, and sartorius muscles of the Common Murre (Uria aalge), Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica), Rock Dove (Columba livia; hereafter "pigeon"), and Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus). Glycolytic enzyme levels in the flight muscles were lower in the murre and the puffin than in the pheasant, while both glycolytic and Krebs-cycle enzyme levels resembled those in the pigeon. We believe puffins and murres do not rely extensively on anaerobic glycolysis during diving. In concordance with a role in oxygen storage for diving, the levels of myoglobin in the flight muscles of murres and puffins were higher than those in pigeons or pheasants. They were lower than published values for penguins, however. In contrast to the trends for pigeon and pheasant muscles, the alcid sartorius muscles had a considerably lower aerobic orientation than the flight muscles.

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Aberrant Colouration in the Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica), the Common Murre (Uria aalge), and the Thick-billed Murre (U. lomvia) from Atlantic Canada

The Canadian Field-Naturalist ◽

10.22621/cfn.v130i2.1837 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 130 (2) ◽

pp. 140 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Alexander L Bond ◽

Antony W Diamond

Keyword(s):

Somatic Mutation ◽

Species Recognition ◽

Flight Mechanics ◽

Atlantic Canada ◽

Uria Aalge ◽

Common Murre ◽

Proper Form ◽

Fratercula Arctica ◽

The Common ◽

Atlantic Puffin

The colour of birds’ plumage and bare parts is an important feature in choice of mate, camouflage, thermoregulation, species recognition, and flight mechanics. Abnormalities in colouration occur in a variety of species and can have important consequences for an individual’s survival and fitness. We present 7 new cases of colouration abnormalities in 3 species of auk (Alcidae) and review previous reports to correctly assign the proper form of abnormality to specimens in museums or photographs. Of the 53 reported colouration abnormalities, we reclassified 42, progressive greying being the most common (18 or 19 cases out of 42, 43–45%), followed by brown (10/42 cases, 24%), in addition to 6 cases of melanism, 4 of dilution, 2 of partial leucism, and 1 likely somatic mutation. Properly describing the form of colour abnormality improves our understanding of the frequency, causes, and consequences of aberrant colouration.

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The common murre (Uria aalge), an auk seabird, reacts to underwater sound

The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America ◽

10.1121/10.0001400 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 147 (6) ◽

pp. 4069-4074 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Kirstin Anderson Hansen ◽

Ariana Hernandez ◽

T. Aran Mooney ◽

Marianne H. Rasmussen ◽

Kenneth Sørensen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Uria Aalge ◽

Underwater Sound ◽

Common Murre ◽

The Common

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PREY DENSITY AND THE BEHAVIORAL FLEXIBILITY OF A MARINE PREDATOR: THE COMMON MURRE (URIA AALGE)

Ecology ◽

10.1890/06-1695.1 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 88 (8) ◽

pp. 2024-2033 ◽

Cited By ~ 72

Author(s):

Ann M. A. Harding ◽

John F. Piatt ◽

Joel A. Schmutz ◽

Michael T. Shultz ◽

Thomas I. Van Pelt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Prey Density ◽

Behavioral Flexibility ◽

Uria Aalge ◽

Marine Predator ◽

Common Murre ◽

The Common

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The ectoparasites of some marine birds from Bamfield Marine Station, British Columbia, with particular reference to the common murre, Uria aalge (Pont.)

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z79-262 ◽

1979 ◽

Vol 57 (10) ◽

pp. 1980-1984 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

John T. Ballard ◽

Richard A. Ring

Keyword(s):

British Columbia ◽

Host Species ◽

Uria Aalge ◽

Marine Birds ◽

Common Murre ◽

Marine Station ◽

The Common

Six species of birds from the region of the Bamfield Marine Station, British Columbia, were examined for ectoparasites. A total of seven species of Mallophaga belonging lo five genera (Saemundssonia, Austromenopon, Cummingsielli, Anatoecus, and Anaticola) were recovered. One flea (Mioctenopsylla traubi, Siphonaptera), leather mites of the genus Zachvatkinia, other mites of the genera Ameronothrus. Cymbaeremaeus, and Rhinonyssus, and ticks of the genus Ixodes were also identified. Each host species and its ectoparasites are discussed separately. Differences in the ectoparasite burdens of juveniles and adults of both sexes of the common murre, Uria aalge (Pont.), are compared and contrasted.

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