Diving Mammals
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Describe diving behavior
• individuals spend weeks out at sea, diving and surfacing • individuals travel to same foraging locations (same routes) • positive relationship with dive depth + duration
What is the general relationship between dive duration and depth ?
Dive depth increases with dive duration • lots of variation in both dive duration and depth in some animals can go in deep and shallow water
Where are the 3 major internal O2 stores located?
• O2 bound to hemoglobin in the blood • O2 bound to myoglobin in the muscle • O2 contained in air in the lungs
What does the amount of O2 in blood depend on?
• Oxygen-carrying capacity • Total volume of blood • Degree to which blood is saturated at submergence
Blood store = ?
O2-carrying capacity x blood volume
Why are the lungs considered a O2 store?
• O2 in air in lungs at submergence • Diving mammals do not take in a big breath before diving
What are the 3 circulatory change responses?
• Vasoconstriction • Slowed heart rate • Increase in red blood cell concentration
Vasoconstriction = ?
Reduce in blood flow to visceral organs + muscles
Slow heart rate = ?
Diving bradycardia - saves energy - matches how much heart works with how much of the body is supplied with blood (smaller circuit)
What happens when there is an increase in red blood cell concentration?
• Increase in hemoglobin –> oxygen carrying capacity • Only during diving • Red blood cell stored in spleen when surfaced
What occurs during metabolic changes?
Vasoconstriction creates: - aerobic part of body (heart, brain, arterial blood) - anaerobic part (visceral organs, muscles) Surface: blood flows back to muscles –> lactic acid moves from muscles to blood
How do aquatic animals save energy in the water?
• Save energy (O2) during descent (use gliding during descent) • Has to use energy (O2) during ascent
Anaerobic metabolism
Producing energy without oxygen in the longest dive