The Effects of Body Size and Environmental Temperatures on Swimming Efficiency in Marine Mammals: Guidelines for Novel Underwater Propulsive Systems
Abstract
The effects of body size and environmental temperature on locomotor efficiency were examined for the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops Truncatus). Because dolphins rely on limited on board energy supplies during submergence, they represent ideal models for assessing mechanisms of fuel efficiency for autonomous underwater vehicles. This study found that submergence could be prolonged by: (1) packaging of energy stores based on body size, (2) opportunistic use of hydrostatic pressure to reduce stroke frequency, and (3) delaying thermoregulatory (maintenance) costs. These findings provide new insights regarding mechanisms for improving locomotor efficiency in large aquatic vehicles, particularly for deployment in extreme environments.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 31, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA391008
Entities
People
- Terrie M. Williams
Organizations
- University of California, Santa Cruz