Diving mammals.

Defining the limits of diving biochemistry in marine mammals.

The field of marine mammal diving biochemistry was essentially untouched when Peter Hochachka turned his attention to it in the mid-1970s. Over the next 30 years, his work followed three main themes in this area: first, most biologists at that time supported the theory that diving mammals utilized enhanced metabolic pathways for hypoxic energy production (glycolysis to lactate) and reduced thei...

Blood Rheology in Marine Mammals

The field of blood oxygen transport and delivery to tissues has been studied by comparative physiologists for many decades. Within this general area, the particular differences in oxygen delivery between marine and terrestrial mammals has focused mainly on oxygen supply differences and delivery to the tissues under low blood flow diving conditions. Yet, the study of the inherent flow properties...

Imaging the Lung Under Pressure

This study was undertaken to improve our understanding of the mechanical properties of the respiratory system for a range of diving mammals to improve our ability to predict gas exchange during diving. Our long term aim is to determine the alveolar collapse depth and the pressure where gas exchange cease in marine mammals. We hypothesized that differences in the anatomy of the respiratory syste...

Intermittent Swimming by Mammals: A Strategy for Increasing Energetic Efficiency During Diving

STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF MARINE RENEWABLE ENGERY DEVELOPMENT IN SCOTLAND Collision risks between marine renewable energy devices and mammals, fish and diving birds

The mammalian diving response: an enigmatic reflex to preserve life?

The mammalian diving response is a remarkable behavior that overrides basic homeostatic reflexes. It is most studied in large aquatic mammals but is seen in all vertebrates. Pelagic mammals have developed several physiological adaptations to conserve intrinsic oxygen stores, but the apnea, bradycardia, and vasoconstriction is shared with those terrestrial and is neurally mediated. The adaptatio...