Blood Oxygen Depletion in Diving California Sea Lions: How Close to the Limit?
Abstract
The management and depletion of O2 stores underlie the dive capacities of marine mammals and are fundamental to the concept of an aerobic dive limit (ADL, dive duration associated with the onset of post-dive blood accumulation). The ADL, which is often calculated (cADL) on the basis of total body O2 stores and an estimated diving metabolic rate, has become an essential concept in the interpretation of diving behavior and foraging ecology (Kooyman and Ponganis 1998); however, the actual rate and magnitude of O2 store depletion during dives has not been determined in any otariid. This project documented the rate and magnitude of blood O2 store depletion during diving in California sea lions, and this information will be used to develop an experimental approach to assess the aerobic dive limit (ADL) and O2 store depletion in this and other otariid species.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA573787
Entities
People
- Paul J. Ponganis
Organizations
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography