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First published online June 16, 2004
Journal of Experimental Biology 207, 2715-2724 (2004)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2004
doi: 10.1242/jeb.01074
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Adjustments of gastric pH, motility and temperature during long-term preservation of stomach contents in free-ranging incubating king penguins

C. Thouzeau1,*, G. Peters1,2, C. Le Bohec1 and Y. Le Maho1

1 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UPR 9010, Centre d'Ecologie et Physiologie Energétiques, 23 rue Becquerel, F-67087 Strasbourg Cedex 2, France
2 earth&Ocean Technologies, Hasseer Strasse 75, 24113 Kiel, Germany

* Author for correspondence (e-mail: cecile.thouzeau{at}c-strasbourg.fr)

Accepted 6 May 2004

Male king penguins are able to store undigested food in their stomach for up to 3 weeks during their incubation fast, which evidently implies some modification of their digestive process. Using small electronic recorders, we studied the change in gastric pH, motility and temperature during the first week of food storage. The pH could be maintained at values as high as 6 throughout the incubation fast, a pH that is unfavourable for avian gastric proteinase activity. Gastric motility was never completely inhibited but could be markedly reduced. Stomach temperature was maintained at around 38°C. The fact that stomach temperature of incubating birds did not show a daily rhythmic fluctuation as seen in non-breeding birds could be due to temperature constraints on embryo development. Thus the present study demonstrates substantial adjustments of pH and gastric motility in incubating king penguins, which may contribute to the inhibition of digestive gastric processes.

Key words: gastric pH, gastric motility, gastric temperature, stomach content preservation, penguin, Aptenodytes patagonicus, incubation fast


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© The Company of Biologists Ltd 2004