Modeling gas dynamics in California sea lions

Abstract

This work is aimed at revising a previously published gas dynamics model to estimate tissue and blood N2 (PN2), O2 (PO2) and CO2 (PCO2) tensions in breath-hold diving California sea lions. Although the existing model’s estimates for tissue and blood PN2, PO2, and PCO2 in mammals (Fahlman, Olszowka et al. 2006; Fahlman, Svärd et al. 2008) have been used to estimate the potential risk of bubble emboli/decompression sickness in deep diving whales exposed to Navy sonar (Hooker, Baird et al. 2009; Kvadsheim, Miller et al. 2012), the input parameters are based on data from terrestrial animals. In order to obtain accurate estimates for tissue and blood PN2, PO2, and PCO2, it would be beneficial to revise the existing model to reflect data acquired from recent studies of marine mammals. The revised model could then be used to investigate scenarios where marine mammals are prone to decompression sickness (DCS) due to changes in dive behavior or physiology.

Document Details

Document Type
DoD Grant Award
Publication Date
Aug 12, 2016
Source ID
N000141512221

Entities

People

  • Andreas Fahlman

Organizations

  • Office of Naval Research
  • Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi
  • United States Navy

Tags

Readers

  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Marine Mammal Biology
  • Underwater engineering and Marine Technology.