Daily energy expenditure of male barn swallows correlates with tail-streamer length: handicap-mediated foraging strategies.
Daily energy expenditure (DEE) of male barn swallows (Hirundo rustica), measured using the doubly labelled water technique, correlated with streamer length. Contrary to predictions derived from previous findings, neither a positive linear nor a u-shaped relationship was found between DEE and streamer length. Instead, an n-shaped curve showed that the highest DEE corresponded to an intermediate streamer length of 119 mm. A model incorporating estimates of resting metabolism and flight energy expenditure from aerodynamics models suggested that variation in individual tail dynamics was the most likely explanation for the observed DEE. We suggest that streamer length is coupled to foraging strategy, because tail dynamics control flight performance, which in turn influences flight behaviour.
Nudds
Robert L
RL
Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK. bgyrln@leeds.ac.uk
Spencer
Karen A
KA
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001481:Basal Metabolism; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005241:Feathers / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005426:Flight, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D008098:Litter Size; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D012606:Scotland; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D020308:Songbirds / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D013623:Tail / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D014741:Video Recording