 Born to Dive... 20 Minutes on One Breath
Posted by: Cindy on Dec 12, 2007 AD - 11:16 AM
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"We hypothesize that the emperor can store more oxygen in its blood due to different binding properties of its hemoglobin. This would allow it to use its lung oxygen completely and would also provide a greater oxygen content at low oxygen pressures so that there is no tissue damage," National Geographic quoted the lead author Paul Ponganis of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego, California, as saying.
Emperor penguins are able to dive to 1,850 feet (565 meters) while on the lookout for fish, squid, and krill in the open ocean. A new study released in the Journal of Experimental Biology suggests that the largest of all penguin species, the emperor penguin, are able to dive for 20 minuites on a single breath because of a special blood protein...
Study findings showed that penguins in Antarctica return from long fishing excursions under the ice with the lowest blood oxygen levels ever recorded in wild animals. Such very depleted reserves would cause other willdlife to collapse and experience tissue damage.
Born to Dive
Study findings indicate that Emperor penguins have a very special form of hemoglobin that allows them to efficiently use all the oxygen in their lungs during their dives. In addition they control oxygen use by slowing their heart rate to as low as five beats a minute on long dives.
Sensors in Air Sacs
Epedition head Paul Ponganis and his team did an amazing job compiling their data and in such a challenging environment. For the study, Ponganis and his colleagues monitored oxygen levels inside the blood vessels of wild birds living temporarily at the Penguin Ranch research facility on McMurdo Sound in southern Antarctica.
The study penguins were wired with tiny sensors inside their air sacs. These sensors transmitted data to special recorders strapped to the birds' backs. Ponganis recorded the longest emperor penguin dive ever....23 minutes!! To learn more read the full story at: Penguins can dive underwater for over 20 minutes on a single breath
Source: Cheers Science News
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