Breaking_the_fast_data_access

Southern elephant seals experience a ’catastrophic molt‘, a costly event characterized by the renewal of both hair and epidermis that requires high peripheral vascular circulation. Molting animals are constrained by high metabolic heat loss and are thought to fast and remain on land. This study investigates the stomach temperature and movement patterns of molting female southern elephant seals, to examine the ability of individuals to balance the energetic constraints of molting on land. We investigated if weather conditions influenced this behavior and the consequences on females body condition before their next departure to sea.

南象海豹（Southern elephant seals）会经历“灾难性换毛”——这是一项高成本的生理过程，以毛发与表皮的全面更新为特征，该过程依赖较高的外周血液循环支持。处于换毛期的个体受限于极高的代谢性热散失，因此被推测需禁食并停留在陆地。本研究以换毛期的雌性南象海豹为研究对象，监测其胃部温度与运动模式，旨在探究个体在陆地换毛过程中平衡能量约束的能力。本研究同时分析了气象条件是否会影响该换毛行为，以及该行为对雌性南象海豹下次下海前体况的影响。