Estimating field metabolic rates of pinnipeds: doubly labelled water gets the seal of approval

• Published in: Functional ecology Vol. 22; no. 2; pp. 245 - 254
• Main Authors: Sparling, C. E., Thompson, D., Fedak, M. A., Gallon, S. L., Speakman, J. R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Oxford, UK : Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.04.2008; British Ecological Society; Blackwell Publishing Ltd; Blackwell Science
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal Physiological Ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Autoecology; Biological and medical sciences; Body composition; doubly labeled water; energetics; Estimation methods; Foraging; Fractionation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; grey seal; Human ecology; Isotopes; Mammalia; Marine ecology; Metabolism; respirometry; Seals; Vertebrates: general zoology, morphology, phylogeny, systematics, cytogenetics, geographical distribution; Carnivora; Respirometry; Double labelling; grey seal; Metabolism; Pinnipedia; Energy balance; Vertebrata; Mammalia; doubly labeled water; Halichoerus grypus; Isotopes; energetics

1. Measures of the field metabolic rate of marine mammals are extremely difficult to make but they are essential for assessing the impacts of marine mammals on prey populations, and for assessing dive performance in relation to aerobic limits. 2. The doubly labelled water (DLW) method is an isotope-...