Total body water volume and turnover rate in fresh water and sea water adapted glaucous-winged gulls, Larus glaucescens

Abstract

1. 1. Total body water (TBW) volume and TBW turnover rate were measured by tritiated water (THO) disappearance rate in glaucous-winged gulls, Larus giaucescens drinking either fresh water or sea water. These measurements were compared allometrically to values reported for other birds. 2. 2. TBW volume was 79 ± 3% B W and TBW turnover 0.064 ± 0.006 ml/g day in birds given fresh water. These values did not change when these birds were later adapted to sea water. 3. 3. TBW volume is large in gulls compared to other species. TBW turnover rate of gulls is similar to that of other species.