Brood patch temperature during provocation of incubating common eiders in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard

  • Francois Criscuolo
  • Michel Gauthier-Clerc
  • Yvon Le Maho
  • Geir W. Gabrielsen

Abstract

In this short note we describe the behaviour and body changes of three incubating female common eiders (Somateria mollissima) during provocation made by humans approaching the nest. The study site was near the settlement of Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard. Temperture transmitters were implanted subcutaneously at the brood patch and data recorded using a VHF receiver. We found that the female experiment exhibited a passive defence response (“freezing”), accompanied by a significant drop in brood patch temperature (0.6 °C) during provocation; this temperature drop lasted for 5 minutes. These accord with other studies of the physiological changes which the passive defence response in birds and other animals.

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Published
2001-01-06
How to Cite
Criscuolo F., Gauthier-Clerc M., Le Maho Y., & Gabrielsen G. W. (2001). Brood patch temperature during provocation of incubating common eiders in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard. Polar Research, 20(1), 115-118. https://doi.org/10.3402/polar.v20i1.6505
Section
Research Notes