@article{fdi:010091855,
  title = {{T}he three-dimensional flight of red-footed boobies : adaptations to foraging in a tropical environment ?},
  author = {{W}eimerskirch, {H}. and {L}e {C}orre, {M}. and {R}opert {C}oudert, {Y}. and {K}ato, {A}. and {M}arsac, {F}rancis},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{I}n seabirds a broad variety of morphologies, flight styles and feeding methods exist as an adaptation to optimal foraging in contrasted marine environments for a wide variety of prey types. {B}ecause of the low productivity of tropical waters it is expected that specific flight and foraging techniques have been selected there, but very few data are available. {B}y using five different types of high-precision miniaturized logger (global positioning systems, accelerometers, time depth recorders, activity recorders, altimeters) we studied the way a seabird is foraging over tropical waters. {R}ed-footed boobies are foraging in the day, never foraging at night, probably as a result of predation risks. {T}hey make extensive use of wind conditions, flying preferentially with crosswinds at median speed of 38 km h(-1), reaching highest speeds with tail winds. {T}hey spent 66% of the foraging trip in flight, using a flap-glide flight, and gliding 68% of the flight. {T}ravelling at low costs was regularly interrupted by extremely active foraging periods where birds are very frequently touching water for landing, plunge diving or surface diving (30 landings h(-1)). {D}ives were shallow (maximum 2.4 m) but frequent (4.5 dives h(-1)), most being plunge dives. {W}hile chasing for very mobile prey like flying fishes, boobies have adopted a very active and specific hunting behaviour, but the use of wind allows them to reduce travelling cost by their extensive use of gliding. {D}uring the foraging and travelling phases birds climb regularly to altitudes of 20-50 m to spot prey or congeners. {D}uring the final phase of the flight, they climb to high altitudes, up to 500 m, probably to avoid attacks by frigatebirds along the coasts. {T}his study demonstrates the use by boobies of a series of very specific flight and activity patterns that have probably been selected as adaptations to the conditions of tropical waters.},
  keywords = {tracking ; global positioning system ; accelerometers ; altitude ; wind ; prey capture ; {ZONE} {TROPICALE} ; {EUROPA} {ILE} ; {MOZAMBIQUE} {CANAL}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{P}roceedings of the {R}oyal {S}ociety of {L}ondon {S}eries {B} {B}iological {S}ciences},
  volume = {272},
  numero = {1558},
  pages = {53--61},
  ISSN = {0962-8452},
  year = {2005},
  DOI = {10.1098/rspb.2004.2918},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010091855},
}