Diving Flashcards
(11 cards)
How do some marine mammals dive deep and for long periods?
Oxygen storage (blood and muscles): large blood volumes, large muscle mass, high concentrations of haemoglobin and myoglobin
Cardiovascular responses
Metabolic responses
Both CR and MR slow down oxygen consumption
Reduced aerobic metabolism
Which marine mammal species can store the most oxygen?
Sperm whales: 81 mL O2 per/kg
What are marine mammals cardiovascular responses to diving?
- Bradycardia (reduced heart rates) - slows the uptake of oxygen from the lungs; slows the use of oxygen by tissues
- Blood flow is diverted to obligate aerobic organs (primarily the brain) - reduced flow to organs and muscles
What is marine mammals metabolic responses to diving?
- Bradycardia (reduced heart rates) - slows the uptake of oxygen from the lungs; slows the use of oxygen by tissues
- Blood flow is diverted to obligate aerobic organs (primarily the brain) - reduced flow to organs and muscles
What is marine mammals metabolic responses to diving?
Low diving metabolic rates slows use of stored oxygen
What is the dive reflex of marine mammals?
Reduced hear rate
Peripheral vasoconstriction
Reduced aerobic metabolism
How does pressure when diving affect animals?
Damage to membrane lining the sinuses
Decompression sickness (N2 bubbles in lungs)
Nitrogen narcosis
High pressure nervous system
What adaptations to pressure have marine mammals evolved?
Facial sinuses lined with vascular structures which become engorged with blood at depth, minimising pressure differential.
O2 stored in blood or muscle, exhale before diving.
Respiratory structures highly compressible - lung collapse
How do sea snakes deal with the lack of oxygen when diving?
Cutaneous respiration that is facilitated by low partial pressure of O2 in arterial blood.
How do sea turtles deal with lower oxygen in water?
Efficient O2 transport, High O2 binding, Insensitive to hypoxia, Lungs collapse at 80 m
What adaptations do marine iguanas have for diving?
Bradycardia (lower heart rate)
