An Experimental Model for Bubble Formation in Diving Seals and Porpoises

Abstract

Understanding the behavior of gas within marine mammals as pressure varies with depth is critical for models of gas management in diving mammals. Interpretation of such data allows a mechanistic understanding of the effects, or absence of effects, of acoustic stressors on diving marine mammals. 1. How does lung collapse progress in diving mammals with increasing depth? 2. Where residual air remains, what is the air to blood transfusion distance and rate? 3. How and why do gas bubbles develop in by caught seals and porpoises drowned at various depths? 4. What are the gas compositions of bubbles detected in marine mammals? 5. Can ultrasound detect bubbles in intact marine mammals?

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 30, 2009
Accession Number
ADA531185

Entities

People

  • Andreas Fahlman
  • D. R. Ketten
  • Michael J Moore
  • Sophie Dennison

Organizations

  • Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Ground and Sea Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Animals
  • Attenuation
  • Blood Transfusions
  • Broadband Transducers
  • Carbon Fibers
  • Collapse
  • Data Acquisition
  • Decompression Sickness
  • Detection
  • Diagnostic Imaging
  • High Pressure
  • Mammals
  • Marine Mammals
  • Measurement
  • Porpoises
  • Respiratory System
  • X-Ray Computed Tomography

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Marine Mammal Biology
  • Trauma Surgery or Emergency Medicine.