Body and organ mass dynamics during remigial moult in a wing–foot-propelled diving sea duck: the Common Eider (Atlantic) (Somateria mollissima dresseri)

2015 ◽  
Vol 93 (10) ◽  
pp. 755-764 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Viain ◽  
M. Guillemette ◽  
J.-P.L. Savard
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Mass ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Flight Muscle ◽  
Somateria Mollissima ◽  
Dabbling Ducks ◽  
Diving Ducks ◽  
Common Eiders ◽  
Sea Duck ◽  
Remigial Moult ◽  
Atrophy Of The Heart

Body and organ dynamics, during remigial moult, have been mainly explored on geese, dabbling ducks, and foot-propelled diving ducks, but weakly on sea ducks. This study investigated the internal changes in a wing–foot-propelled sea duck to determine the adaptive strategies implemented. Forty-five male Common Eiders (Atlantic) (Somateria mollissima dresseri Sharpe, 1871), collected in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, were dissected; their body mass, muscle mass, and organ sizes were measured. We tested three hypotheses: (1) S. m. dresseri use a strategic reduction of body mass to reduce the flightlessness duration; (2) organs will exhibit changes consistent with a trade-off between function and maintenance to save and reallocate energy and proteins to feather growth; (3) S. m. dresseri would show lower flight muscle reduction than foot-propelled diving ducks. Somateria mollissima dresseri did not lose body mass, which does not support the first hypothesis. Atrophy of the heart followed by hypertrophy and opposite changes in leg muscle mass and gizzard mass are consistent with the second hypothesis. Flight muscle mass showed lower variations than in other ducks, validating the third hypothesis. We also suggest that the lipid depletion observed early in the moult could be a strategy to reduce foraging effort and minimize the risk of damaging the growing feathers.

Common Eider (Somateria Mollissima) Body Condition and Parasitic Load during a Mortality Event in the Baltic Proper

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 167-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Svend-Erik Garbus ◽  
Peter Lyngs ◽  
Jens Peter Christensen ◽  
Kurt Buchmann ◽  
Igor Eulaers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
High Mortality ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Somateria Mollissima ◽  
Common Eiders ◽  
Baltic Proper ◽  
Average Body Mass ◽  
The Baltic ◽  
Average Body

During late spring of 2007 and 2015, we observed unusually high mortality of Common Eiders (Somateria mollissima) on Christiansø in the Baltic Proper. The number of dead birds (2007: 125; 2015: 110) composed 5–10% of the total colony. In 2015, we collected 15 (12 adult females, three subadult males) of the 110 recently deceased Common Eiders for detailed autopsy. The average body mass of the females was 1,040 g (920–1,160 g) which is ca 60% lower than what can be expected of healthy females during wintertime. Similarly, for the subadult males the average body mass of 1,203 g (1,070–1,300 g) comprised only 45% of what can be expected for healthy subadult males during winter. All 15 birds were thus severely emaciated and cachexic with general atrophy of muscles and internal organs. Hunger oedema, distended gall bladder, empty stomach, empty and dilated intestines and dilated cardiomyopathy were observed as well. In addition, all 15 Common Eiders were infected with high loads of the acanthocephalan parasite Polymorphus minutus. No gross morphological changes suggested toxicological, bacteriological or viral causes to the mortality. Taken together, our autopsy suggested starvation leading to secondary metabolic catabolism and eventually congestive heart failure. Five birds that were examined in 2007 showed the same symptoms. We suspect that the introduction of suboptimal feeding conditions in combination with a high parasite load over the last decade synergistically caused high physiological stress leading to population level effects manifested as high mortality.

scholarly journals Body mass, mercury exposure, biochemistry and untargeted metabolomics of incubating common eiders (Somateria mollissima) in three Baltic colonies

2020 ◽  
Vol 142 ◽  
pp. 105866 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nyuk Ling Ma ◽  
Martin Hansen ◽  
Ole Roland Therkildsen ◽  
Thomas Kjær Christensen ◽  
Rune Skjold Tjørnløv ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Mercury Exposure ◽  
Untargeted Metabolomics ◽  
Somateria Mollissima ◽  
Common Eiders

scholarly journals Foraging Before Spring Migration and Before Breeding in Common Eiders: Does Hyperphagia Occur?

The Condor ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 103 (3) ◽  
pp. 633-638 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magella Guillemette
Keyword(s):  
Energy Balance ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
The Body ◽  
Common Eider ◽  
Somateria Mollissima ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Common Eiders ◽  
Foraging Performance ◽  
Time Spent Feeding ◽  
And Migration

Abstract Foraging performance of Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) was studied to find out if hyperphagia occurs before migration and breeding in this species. Diving efficiency and time spent feeding were quantified concomitantly for two subspecies that differ in the timing of their reproduction and migration. The foraging performance of female S. m. dresseri preparing for breeding and female S. m. borealis preparing for migration were compared with their male counterparts, which are known to achieve energy balance during these periods. Female dresseri spent 41% of their time feeding and made 404 dives daily, for a total of 169 min spent underwater each day. Female dresseri spent more time diving than did males by about one hour each day. There were no detectable differences in the foraging performances of male and female borealis, probably because the body mass of migrating females increased only slightly prior to migration. Hyperphagia in breeding female dresseri appears to be the main cause of increased body mass, although other mechanisms may play a role. Quête Alimentaire Chez l'Eider à Duvet Avant la Migration Printanière et la Nidification: Est-Il Possible de Déceler un Phénomène d'Hyperphagie? Résumé. Le quête alimentaire de l'Eider à duvet (Somateria mollissima) fut étudiée au printemps avant la migration et avant la nidification dans le but de déceler, s'il y a lieu, un phénomène d'hyperphagie chez cette espèce. Le temps passé à s'alimenter et l'efficacité de la plongée furent quantifiés simultanément pour deux sous-espèces qui diffèrent quant à leur chronologie de nidification et de migration. La quête alimentaire des femelles S. m. dresseri, se préparant pour la nidification, et des femelles S. m. borealis, se préparant pour la migration, fut comparée avec celle des mâles de chacune des sous-espèces respectives. Les mâles furent utilisés comme “témoins” puisqu'il y a des évidences que ces derniers maintiennent l'équilibre énergétique durant cette période. Les femelles dresseri ont passé en moyenne 41% de leur temps à s'alimenter et elles ont réalisé 404 plongeons quotidiennement, pour un total de 169 min. passées en plongée par jour, soit environ une heure de plus que les mâles. Il n'y avait pas de différences dans la performance de la quête alimentaire des femelles et des mâles borealis, probablement parce que les femelles n'emmagasinent que très peu de réserves avant leur départ pour la migration. En conclusion, un phénomène d'hyperphagie se manifeste chez la femelle dresseri bien que d'autres mécanismes d'accumulation de réserves peuvent jouer un rôle.

scholarly journals Incubation Behaviour of Common Eiders Somateria Mollissima in the Central Baltic: Nest Attendance and Loss in Body Mass

Acrocephalus ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (178-179) ◽  
pp. 91-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Svend-Erik Garbus ◽  
Peter Lyngs ◽  
Mathias Garbus ◽  
Pelle Garbus ◽  
Igor Eulaers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Video Camera ◽  
Adult Survival ◽  
Somateria Mollissima ◽  
Surveillance Video ◽  
Body Mass Change ◽  
Extreme Stress ◽  
Common Eiders ◽  
Incubation Behaviour ◽  
Nesting Behaviour

Abstract Here we present the recording of body mass change and weight loss during incubation in a Common Eider Somateria mollissima colony at Christiansø in the Central Baltic (55°19’N 15°11’E). The study was conducted during April and May 2015 and a total number of four birds were followed (two were lost due to predation and three due to power outages). Body mass and nesting behaviour was recorded electronically over a period of 26–27 days using automatic poultry scales and a surveillance video camera. During incubation, the eiders underwent a 28–37% loss in body mass and left the nest on average 13 times (range: 7–17 times) for a period of 7–70 min. In general, birds with high initial body mass left their nest for a shorter total time than birds with lower initial body mass. The recorded daily changes in body mass indicate that the eiders foraged during the incubation period, not just leaving the nest for rehydration or in response to disturbance, which improve our current understanding of eider incubation behaviour. Such information is important to fully understanding of eider breeding biology in order to better conserve and manage the species during its breeding seasons where individual birds undergo extreme stress that may affect reproductive outcome and adult survival.

Body mass regulation during incubation in female common eiders Somateria mollissima

2002 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
François Criscuolo ◽  
Geir W. Gabrielsen ◽  
Jean-Paul Gendner ◽  
Yvon Le Maho
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Somateria Mollissima ◽  
Body Mass Regulation ◽  
Common Eiders

scholarly journals Maximum Lift Production During Takeoff in Flying Animals

1987 ◽  
Vol 130 (1) ◽  
pp. 235-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
JAMES H. MARDEN
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Mass ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Flight Muscle ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Specific Power ◽  
Interspecific Differences ◽  
Wing Disk ◽  
Specific Power Output ◽  
Theoretical Predictions ◽  
Taxonomic Groups

Maximum lift production during takeoff in still air was determined for a wide variety of insects and a small sample of birds and bats, and was compared with variation in morphology, taxonomy and wingbeat type. Maximum lift per unit flight muscle mass was remarkably similar between taxonomic groups (54–63 N kg−1), except for animals using clap-and-fling wingbeats, where muscle mass-specific lift increased by about 25 % (72–86 N kg−1). Muscle mass-specific lift was independent of body mass, wing loading, disk loading and aspect ratio. Birds and bats yielded results indistinguishable from insects using conventional wingbeats. Interspecific differences in short-duration powered flight and takeoff ability are shown to be caused primarily by differences in flight muscle ratio, which ranges from 0.115 to 0.560 among species studied to date. These results contradict theoretical predictions that maximum mass-specific power output and lift production should decrease with increasing body mass and wing disk loading.

scholarly journals Candling and Field Atlas of Early Egg Development in Common Eiders Somateria Mollissima in the Central Baltic

Acrocephalus ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (178-179) ◽  
pp. 85-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Svend-Erik Garbus ◽  
Peter Lyngs ◽  
Anders Popp Thyme ◽  
Jens Peter Christensen ◽  
Christian Sonne
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Scientific Field ◽  
Somateria Mollissima ◽  
Egg Development ◽  
Field Station ◽  
Energetic Stress ◽  
Common Eiders ◽  
Average Proportion ◽  
Main Factor

Abstract Here we present the results of candling 258 eggs from 50 nests of Common Eiders Somateria mollissima in a colony in the central Baltic. Of these, 223 (86%) had a developing foetus. Among the 35 (14%) failed eggs, 15 were unfertilized and 20 contained a dead embryo. The prevalence of failed eggs is similar to the average proportion of failed eggs reported previously by the Christiansø Scientific Field Station during 1998–2014. The reason for the high percentage of failed eggs is unknown; however, low pre-incubation body mass and energetic stress is likely to be the main factor. In addition, we incubated 8 eggs in the laboratory from day 0 to hatch in order to follow the development and foetal morphology. This resulted in a field atlas from which it is possible to estimate date of incubation start using candling in early incubation (days 1–12). The atlas is a new possibility for field biologists to estimate the first day of incubation of breeding eiders and the prevalence of unfertilized and rotten eggs, which is important for studying their biology and population dynamics.

Regulated changes in body mass and muscle mass in molting Blue-winged Teal for an early return to flight

1998 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard E Brown ◽  
David K Saunders
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Mass ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Flight Muscle ◽  
Anas Discors ◽  
Early Return ◽  
Leg Muscle ◽  
Length And Area ◽  
Cyclic Changes

During the breeding season, Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors) undergo cyclic changes in body mass (Mb) and pectoral- and leg-muscle mass coincident with the simultaneous molt of all flight feathers. These conformational changes cannot be attributed to nutritional or metabolic demands, nor can they be a use-disuse phenomenon. A reduction of >>18% in body mass from premolt values produces wing loadings (Mb/wing area) nearly equal to those seen premolt, allowing these birds to regain flight capability, although the flight feathers are <<75% of premolt length and area. A reduction of >>30% in flight-muscle mass represents about half of the total reduction in Mb; however, the lowest power necessary for flight, calculated for five different periods during the breeding season, is found at 75% of feather regrowth. Reduction in Mb coupled with a >>40% increase in leg-muscle mass during the flightless period should permit these birds to achieve higher swimming speeds. The temporal and mechanical relationships of these conformation adjustments suggest that they are programmed or regulated to (i) permit the earliest possible return to flight after the molt-related flightless period and (ii) provide for faster predator-avoidance speeds across or under the water during the flightless period.

CHARACTERISTICS OF POST-FLIGHT MUSCLE STRENGTH AND VELOCITY DYNAMICS IN COSMONAUTS AS A FUNCTION OF WEIGHT LOADING DURING LONG-TERM SPACE MISSIONS

2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (5) ◽  
pp. 23-28
Author(s):  
E.V. Fomina ◽  
◽  
T.B. Kukoba ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Strength ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Flight Muscle ◽  
Space Mission ◽  
The Body ◽  
Maximum Strength ◽  
Training Device ◽  
Leg Muscle ◽  
Weight Loading

Testing of 25 cosmonauts showed that the amount of resistance training weight loading in long-term space mission influences dynamics of the leg-muscle strength and velocity recovery. On Earth, the loads equal from 70 to 130 % of the body mass is sufficient for keeping up endurance and maximum strength moments of shin and thigh muscles. In the group of cosmonauts who had not used the strength training device or chosen loads less than 30 % of the body mass the leg-muscle maximum strength and thigh endurance were decreased substantially on day 4 of return and all the more by day 15 back on Earth.

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