Abstract: Summary Burrowing is a widespread nesting behaviour, found in vertebrates and invertebrates. It is particularly common in small procellariiform seabirds such as blue petrels (Halobaena caerulea) and Antarctic prions (Pachyptila desolata), two closely related petrel species. However, digging a burrow is costly and alternative strategies may evolve. Accordingly, blue petrel males can adopt two alternative nesting strategies: digging a new burrow or squatting in an empty one. Importantly, a blue petrel squatter arriving at the colony to breed is more likely to find empty Antarctic prion burrows than empty blue petrel burrows, since the former species only start breeding a month later. However, squatting in a prions burrow is risky for blue petrels as the legitimate owner very often returns and claims the burrow back, thus ruining the squatters breeding attempt. We present here results of a survey of two sympatric colonies of blue petrels and Antarctic prions on Kerguelen Island. Our data show that blue petrel squatters preferentially occupy blue petrel empty burrows. To investigate potential underlying mechanisms behind this preference, we used a simple Y-maze design to show that blue petrels can discriminate and prefer their specific odour over the prion odour. Our results confirm the existence of alternative burrowing strategies in blue petrels and suggest that squatters could use olfaction to avoid the less suitable Antarctic prion burrows.

Abstract: Abstract The Concordiasi project is making innovative observations of the atmosphere above Antarctica. The most important goals of the Concordiasi are as follows: To enhance the accuracy of weather prediction and climate records in Antarctica through the assimilation of in situ and satellite data, with an emphasis on data provided by hyperspectral infrared sounders. The focus is on clouds, precipitation, and the mass budget of the ice sheets. The improvements in dynamical model analyses and forecasts will be used in chemical-transport models that describe the links between the polar vortex dynamics and ozone depletion, and to advance the understanding of the Earth system by examining the interactions between Antarctica and lower latitudes.To improve our understanding of microphysical and dynamical processes controlling the polar ozone, by providing the first quasi-Lagrangian observations of stratospheric ozone and particles, in addition to an improved characterization of the 3D polar vortex dynamics. Tech...

Abstract: Bio-logging is a new interdisciplinary research area at the intersection of animal behavior and bioengineering. It involves several applications such as determination of specific parameters (attitude, acceleration, and position) via a new generation of mechatronic systems. The aim of this paper concerns the animal motion estimation problem using low-cost sensors fusion. A quaternion-based nonlinear observer for the tracking of rigid body attitude (orientation) and heading using measurements provided from low cost inertial and magnetic sensors is presented. The algorithm combines low-frequency, 3-axis accelerometer and 3-axis magnetometer, data with high frequency 3-axis gyroscope measurement. Then, to increase the performance and reduce the computational requirements, we exploit the sensor readings directly in the designed observer. Using the estimated attitude, the linear acceleration is then derived. This latter will be used in the future to evaluate the animal energy index and its mechanical work. Finally, some experimental results, using the measurements provided by an inertial sensor put on dog are given to illustrate the efficiency of the proposed algorithm.