Breaking the fast: first report of dives and ingestion events in molting southern elephant seals

Author:

Charlanne Laura M.ORCID,Chaise LaurelineORCID,Sornette DamienORCID,Piot Erwan,McCafferty Dominic J.ORCID,Ancel André,Gilbert Caroline

Abstract

AbstractSouthern elephant seals (SES) experience a ‘catastrophic molt’, a costly event characterized by the renewal of both hair and epidermis that requires high peripheral vascular circulation. Molting animals are therefore constrained by high metabolic heat loss and are thought to fast and remain on land. To examine the ability of individuals to balance the energetic constraints of molting on land we investigate the stomach temperature and movement patterns of molting female SES. We find that 79% of females swam and 61% ingested water or prey items, despite the cost of cold-water exposure while molting. This behavior was related to periods of warm and low wind conditions, and females that dived and ingested more often, lost less body mass. We conclude that the paradigm of fasting during the molt in this species, and the fitness consequences of this behavior should be reconsidered, especially in the context of a changing climate.

Funder

ANR HYPO2

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Subject

General Agricultural and Biological Sciences,General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology,Medicine (miscellaneous)

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