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

Charlanne, L. M., Chaise, L., Sornette, D., Piot, E., McCafferty, D. J. , Ancel, A. and Gilbert, C. (2024) Breaking the fast: first report of dives and ingestion events in molting southern elephant seals. Communications Biology, 7(1), 64. (doi: 10.1038/s42003-023-05720-2) (PMID:38191678)

Abstract

Southern 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.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: The overall study was funded by the Institut Polaire Français Paul-Emile Victor (IPEV Programs 1037 HEnergES and 1201 Cycleleph) and doctoral fellowships of French Ministry of Higher Education and Research. D.J.M. was funded by the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: McCafferty, Dr Dominic
• Authors: Charlanne, L. M., Chaise, L., Sornette, D., Piot, E., McCafferty, D. J., Ancel, A., and Gilbert, C.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
• Journal Name: Communications Biology
• Publisher: Nature Research
• ISSN: 2399-3642
• ISSN (Online): 2399-3642
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2024 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Communications Biology 7(1):64
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License