Heat loss in air of an Antarctic marine mammal, the Weddell seal

摘要: The conflicting needs of homeostasis in air versus water complicate our understanding thermoregulation marine mammals. Large-scale modeling efforts directed at predicting the energetic impact changing sea ice conditions on polar ecosystems require a better free-ranging animals. We utilized infrared imaging as an indirect approach to determine surface temperatures dry, hauled-out Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddellii, n = 35) varying age and body condition during Antarctic summer. study groups provided fivefold range mass threefold blubber depth. Surface temperature (T s) did not vary by region (head, shoulder, axilla, torso, hip, flippers). Average seal T s (mean 13.9 ± 11.2 °C) was best described through combination physical traits environmental variables ambient air, wind speed. Additional factors ice), relative humidity cloud cover improve model. Heat transfer model estimates suggested that radiation contributed 56.6 ± 7.7 % total heat loss. Convection conduction accounted for remaining 15.7 ± 12.3 27.7 ± 9.3 %, respectively. loss primarily influenced speed, whereas convective depth Conductive modeled largely function rather than any covariates, therefore substantially higher animals leaner condition.