The salt gland is a well-developed osmoregulation organ in marine birds, and its relative size often reflects an individual’s feeding environment and osmoregulation capability. The development and functions of salt glands have been described for the Adelie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae), but this information has been poorly documented in the other two pygoscelid species: gentoo (P. papua) and chinstrap penguins (P. antarcticus). To describe the growth-related changes in salt gland masses in relation to chick growth, we measured the wet mass of the salt glands collected from dead gentoo and chinstrap chicks during the early breeding period. The mass of the salt glands was linearly proportional to their body measurements, especially to body mass, in both species, and no significant difference was detected between the two species. Penguins are obligate marine dwellers throughout their life cycle, and the development of the salt gland in penguin chicks suggests that their ability to regulate dietary osmotic stress begins at an early stage of development after hatching. Furthermore, the linear relationship between the gland mass and body mass also suggests that the osmoregulation capability may continue to develop as penguin chicks grow. This descriptive note provides novel and quantitative information on the early developmental pattern of salt glands in gentoo and chinstrap penguins.

中文翻译：

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gentoo 和 chinstrap 企鹅雏鸡中盐腺质量的生长相关变化

盐腺是海鸟发育良好的渗透调节器官，其相对大小往往反映个体的摄食环境和渗透调节能力。已经描述了阿德利企鹅 (Pygoscelis adeliae) 的盐腺的发育和功能，但在其他两种 pygoscelid 物种：gentoo (P. papua) 和帽带企鹅 (P. antarcticus) 中，这一信息的记录很少。为了描述与雏鸡生长相关的盐腺质量的生长相关变化，我们测量了早期繁殖期间从死巴布亚和下巴带雏鸡身上收集的盐腺的湿质量。在两个物种中，盐腺的质量与它们的身体测量值成线性比例，尤其是与体重成线性比例，并且两个物种之间没有检测到显着差异。企鹅在其整个生命周期中都是专性海洋居民，企鹅雏鸟盐腺的发育表明它们调节饮食渗透压力的能力在孵化后的早期发育阶段就开始了。此外，腺体质量和体重之间的线性关系也表明，随着企鹅雏鸡的成长，渗透调节能力可能会继续发展。这份描述性说明提供了关于 gentoo 和下颚带企鹅盐腺早期发育模式的新颖和定量信息。腺体质量和体重之间的线性关系也表明，随着企鹅雏鸡的成长，渗透调节能力可能会继续发展。这份描述性说明提供了关于 gentoo 和下颚带企鹅盐腺早期发育模式的新颖和定量信息。腺体质量和体重之间的线性关系也表明，随着企鹅雏鸡的成长，渗透调节能力可能会继续发展。这篇描述性说明提供了关于 gentoo 和下颚带企鹅盐腺早期发育模式的新颖和定量信息。