Journal article 153 views 60 downloads
Optimization of swim depth across diverse taxa during horizontal travel
,
Paolo Casale,
André Chiaradia ,
Yakup Kaska,
Akiko Kato ,
Paolo Luschi ,
Yan Ropert-Coudert,
Holly Stokes,
Graeme C. Hays
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Volume: 121, Issue: 52
Swansea University Authors:
Kimberley Stokes, Nicole Esteban , Holly Stokes
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DOI (Published version): 10.1073/pnas.2413768121
Abstract
Semi-aquatic taxa, including humans, often swim at the air-water interface where they waste energy generating surface waves. For fully marine animals however, theory predicts the most cost-efficient depth-use pattern for migrating, air-breathing species that do not feed in transit is to travel at ar...
| Published in: | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |
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| ISSN: | 0027-8424 1091-6490 |
| Published: |
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
2024
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| Online Access: |
Check full text
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa68090 |
| Abstract: |
Semi-aquatic taxa, including humans, often swim at the air-water interface where they waste energy generating surface waves. For fully marine animals however, theory predicts the most cost-efficient depth-use pattern for migrating, air-breathing species that do not feed in transit is to travel at around 2–3 times the depth of their body diameter, to minimise vertical distance travelled whilst avoiding wave drag close to the surface. This has rarely been examined, however, due to depth measurement resolution issues at the surface. Here we present evidence for the use of this strategy in the wild to the nearest cm, and document the switch to shallow swimming during naturally occurring long-distance migrations. Using high-resolution depth-accelerometry and video data for little penguins (Eudyptula minor) and loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta), satellite-relayed data for green turtles (Chelonia mydas), and literature data for further sea turtle, penguin and whale species, we show that near-surface swimming is likely used broadly across non-foraging diving animals to minimise the cost of transport. |
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| Keywords: |
behavioural allometry; dive behaviour; locomotion; movement ecology; optimal migration |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |
| Funders: |
Bertarelli Foundation |
| Issue: |
52 |