title: Metabolic rates of minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) in cold water.
abstract: Body temperature, blubber thickness and lung capacity (Vc) were recorded in newly killed minke whales, while respiratory frequency (f) was determined in free-swimming animals. Mean deep (thoracic) body temperature was 34.7 +/- 0.8 (SD) degrees C (n = 14). Weighted mean core/blubber interface temperature in animals caught in 2.5-5.5 degrees C water was 28.8 +/- 1.7 degrees C (n = 8). The minimum average rate of sensible heat loss (HLs) was 3.81 +/- 0.53 (SD) W kgw-0.75 (n = 8) in animals with body masses (w) in the range of 1840 to 5740 kg, HLs being inversely proportional to w (HLs = -2.98 10(-4) w +4.89 W kgw-0.75 (n = 8, r2 = 0.73, P less than 0.01)). The average rate of respiratory heat loss (HLr) was 0.26 +/- 0.04 (SD) W kgw-0.75, regardless of w, in the same 8 animals. Total rates of heat loss (HL = HLr+HLs) in 2.5-5.5 degrees C water ranged between 3.40 and 4.87 W kgw-0.75, with an average of 4.06 +/- 0.52 (SD) W kgw-0.75 (n = 8). Estimates of oxygen consumption based on records of f and Ve, and data on oxygen extraction from other cetaceans, yielded a range of metabolic rates which compared nicely with the calculated HL values.
authors.affiliation: Department of Arctic Biology, University of Tromsø, Breivika, Norway.
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Folkow
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Blix
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001830:Body Surface Area; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D013696:Temperature; D013990:Tidal Volume; D014907:Whales / Q000378:metabolism*