The effect of wind, radiation and body orientation on the thermal environment of Greater Snow goose goslings

1. Using four heated taxidermic mounts of Greater Snow goose goslings of di fferent ages (3-30 d), we found that exposure to wind (up to 5 mis) or arti ficial radiation (up to 500 W/m(2)) could change the standard operative tem perature of gosling mounts by up to -20 or + 18 degrees C, respectively. 2. These values could vary by as much as 9 degrees C due to the interaction b etween wind and radiation, or to changes in body orientation with respect t o both these variables. In the presence of wind, radiative heat gain was re duced, and the interaction was generally more important when wind was perpe ndicular to the incoming radiation. 3. Predictive equations based on these results can be used to estimate the standard operative temperature of gosli ngs in the field and their ability to modify their thermal environment by c hanging orientation with respect to wind and sun. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.