Meeting Abstract

P3.47  Jan. 6  Cost of Transport during Swimming and Running in Two Species of Birds CARR, J.A.*; MCPHERSON, T.J.; MARSH, R.L.; Northeastern University; Northeastern University; Northeastern University carr.je@neu.edu

Few studies have compared the cost of transport during different types of locomotion in a single species. We measured the cost of transport during swimming and running at different speeds in the Mallard Anas platyrhynchus, an animal specialized for surface swimming and the Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus, a bird that commonly uses both terrestrial locomotion and swimming. Both species of birds were trained to run on treadmills and swim in a flow tank at different speeds. Oxygen consumption measurements were made using an open flow respirometry system during steady speed locomotion. Oxygen consumption was used to calculate the cost of transport during both swimming and running at different speeds. Our preliminary results show that the minimum cost of transport during walking and running in the Mallard and the Common Moorhen is higher than more cursorial birds, such as the guinea fowl. In addition, our data suggest that the cost of swimming is inversely correlated to the degree of waterproofing of the plumage. Supported by NIH AR47337 and NSF IOB-0542795 to RLM.