HOW DO PURPLE SANDPIPERS CALIDRIS-MARITIMA SURVIVE THE WINTER NORTH OF THE ARCTIC-CIRCLE

Winter north of the Arctic circle in northern Norway is colder, windie r and there is less solar radiation than in eastern Scotland, at a lat itude 13 degrees further south. We predicted from equations derived fr om heated taxidermic mounts that the maintenance metabolism (Basal Met abolic Rate plus extra costs for thermoregulation) for Purple Sandpipe rs Calidris maritima wintering in these climatic conditions in Norway would be 1.3 times greater than for Purple Sandpipers of the same size in Scotland. Adaptations to the more extreme environment and greater energy requirements were investigated by measuring differences in the body size and composition of Purple Sandpipers from northern Norway an d Scotland. As predicted, the Norwegian Purple Sandpipers had more fat stores, but these were still at relatively low levels (6.5% of fresh body mass) compared with other waders wintering in cold climates. The Norwegian birds were slightly larger so will probably have a relativel y lower thermal conductance than Scottish birds. Also, there were larg e differences in the relative sizes of the intestine (1.5 times heavie r in Norwegian birds) and liver (1.3 times heavier). This suggests Bat Purple Sandpipers wintering in Norway eat and process a greater amoun t of food than the birds in Scotland. Ln this way, the additional ener gy demands for thermoregulation in a colder environment are probably m et.