Accelerometry predicts daily energy expenditure in a bird with high activity levels

• DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2012.0919
• Publication Date: 2012-12-19T10:23:51Z
• Authors: Kyle H. Elliott; Maryline Le Vaillant; Akiko Kato; John R. Speakman; Yan Ropert-Coudert
• Keywords: Doubly labeled water; Total energy expenditure; Energy budget

Animal ecology is shaped by energy costs, yet it difficult to measure fine-scale expenditure in the wild. Because metabolism often closely correlated with mechanical work, accelerometers have potential provide detailed information on of wild animals over fine temporal scales. Nonetheless, accelerometry needs be validated animals, especially across different locomotory modes. We merged data collected 20 thick-billed murres ( Uria lomvia ) from miniature measurements daily 24 h using doubly labelled water. Across three modes (swimming, flying and movement land), dynamic body acceleration was a good predictor as measured independently water R 2 = 0.73). The most parsimonious model suggested that equations were needed predict for than surface swimming or activity land 0.81). Our results demonstrate can an accurate integrated many