A preliminary allometric analysis of respiratory variables in resting birds

Lasiewski, Robert C.; Calder, William A.

doi:10.1016/0034-5687(71)90020-x

Cited by 195 publications

(81 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Thus, if the energetic cost of a lunge is positively allometric in this way, and if oxygen storage (Lasiewski & Calder 1971;Hudson & Jones 1986) and maximum metabolic rate (Glazier 2008) scale isometrically, then diving capacity (i.e. dive duration and depth) could be decreased in larger rorquals.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Skull and buccal cavity allometry increase mass-specific engulfment capacity in fin whales

2009

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Rorqual whales (Balaenopteridae) represent not only some of the largest animals of all time, but also exhibit a wide range in intraspecific and interspecific body size. Balaenopterids are characterized by their extreme lunge-feeding behaviour, a dynamic process that involves the engulfment of a large volume of prey-laden water at a high energetic cost. To investigate the consequences of scale and morphology on lunge-feeding performance, we determined allometric equations for fin whale body dimensions and engulfment capacity. Our analysis demonstrates that larger fin whales have larger skulls and larger buccal cavities relative to body size. Together, these data suggest that engulfment volume is also allometric, increasing with body length as L 3:5 body . The positive allometry of the skull is accompanied by negative allometry in the tail region. The relative shortening of the tail may represent a trade-off for investing all growth-related resources in the anterior region of the body. Although enhanced engulfment volume will increase foraging efficiency, the work (energy) required to accelerate the engulfed water mass during engulfment will be relatively higher in larger rorquals. If the mass-specific energetic cost of a lunge increases with body size, it will have major consequences for rorqual foraging ecology and evolution.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Skull and buccal cavity allometry increase mass-specific engulfment capacity in fin whales

2009

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“…Given the possible early exhalation of air during a dive and the subsequent potential limitations of these estimations, it is remarkable that this mean value is 98% of the mean respiratory capacity (120±2mlkg -1 ) predicted for the body masses of these penguins by an allometric equation (Lasiewski and Calder, 1971). Maximum diving air volumes of king and Adélie penguins are also in the same range as those predicted by the allometric equation (Sato et al, 2002).…”

Section: Diving Air Volumementioning

confidence: 87%

Stroke rates and diving air volumes of emperor penguins: implications for dive performance

Sato

Shiomi

Marshall

et al. 2011

Journal of Experimental Biology

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SUMMARYEmperor penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri), both at sea and at an experimental dive hole, often have minimal surface periods even after performance of dives far beyond their measured 5.6min aerobic dive limit (ADL: dive duration associated with the onset of post-dive blood lactate accumulation). Accelerometer-based data loggers were attached to emperor penguins diving in these two different situations to further evaluate the capacity of these birds to perform such dives without any apparent prolonged recovery periods. Minimum surface intervals for dives as long as 10min were less than 1min at both sites. Stroke rates for dives at sea were significantly greater than those for dives at the isolated dive hole. Calculated diving air volumes at sea were variable, increased with maximum depth of dive to a depth of 250m, and decreased for deeper dives. It is hypothesized that lower air volumes for the deepest dives are the result of exhalation of air underwater. Mean maximal air volumes for deep dives at sea were approximately 83% greater than those during shallow (<50m) dives. We conclude that (a) dives beyond the 5.6min ADL do not always require prolongation of surface intervals in emperor penguins, (b) stroke rate at sea is greater than at the isolated dive hole and, therefore, a reduction in muscle stroke rate does not extend the duration of aerobic metabolism during dives at sea, and (c) a larger diving air volume facilitates performance of deep dives by increasing the total body O 2 store to 68ml O 2 kg -1 . Although increased O 2 storage and cardiovascular adjustments presumably optimize aerobic metabolism during dives, enhanced anaerobic capacity and hypoxemic tolerance are also essential for longer dives. This was exemplified by a 27.6min dive, after which the bird required 6min before it stood up from a prone position, another 20min before it began to walk, and 8.4h before it dived again.

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“…In order to examine how ODBA was related to upthrust across dive depths, the upthrust was calculated for any given dive depth following , assuming a body plumage air of 170 ml kg -1 (Gremillet et al 2005), respiratory air of 160 ml kg -1 (Lasiewski & Calder 1971), body mass of 2.3 kg (Svagelj & Quintana 2007) and a bird body density that is otherwise neutrally buoyant in seawater (Wilson et al 1992). Analyses were performed in Microsoft Excel and using the custom-written software Snoop (G. Thomas, freeware).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%