Metabolic rates of captive grey seals during voluntary diving

摘要: The energetic cost of diving in marine mammals is a difficult value to derive given the problems assessing metabolic rate for an animal at sea. Nevertheless, it fundamental our understanding foraging strategies air-breathers exploiting underwater food sources. We measured rates eight captive grey seals, voluntarily quasi-natural setting. Oxygen consumption during post-dive surface periods was using open-flow respirometry, and dive behaviour seals recorded time depth recorders (TDRs). Mean (DMR) both adults juveniles 1.7 times predicted standard terrestrial animals equal size. For all animals, DMR lower than metabolism whilst they were resting water's surface. On dive-by-dive basis, decreased with duration but increased mean swim speed. Regressing maximum 5% DMRs against resulted significant negative relationship that not significantly different from between calculated aerobic duration, suggesting these within, up to, their limits. developed model allows prediction information on type routinely collected telemetry studies wild seals. accurately predicts behavioural data known data. This can be used predict at-sea important input into ecosystem models.