Working beneath the surface: interplay of biomechanics, physiology and behavioural ecology in diving seabirds

This Theme Section looks at new approaches in the study of seabird foraging ecology, with particular emphasis on the use of recently developed recording devices attached to birds. It includes studies with energy as a theme, such as the energetics of foraging in Magellanic penguins, how dive efficiency varies with depth in emperor penguin, optimality of stroke frequency in diving seabirds, and how using energy to counteract depth-dependent buoyancy may limit pursuit speeds in hunting imperial shags. A more physiological approach is adopted in two studies, one on the dive capacity of emperor penguins and one on planktivorous auklets. Foraging ecology is examined more broadly in a study on the foraging behaviour of breeding thick-billed murres while a modelling approach is used to describe foraging profitability in aucklets (the smallest marine endotherms) feeding on pelagic patches. Finally, consideration is given to bird-attached instrument artefacts in path reconstruction of diving birds using dead-reckoning.