Diving Physiology - Animal Physiology Lab - BIOB32

True or False: Marine mammals mostly perform deep dives, rather than shallow ones.

False

Why do elephant seals migrate thousands of km across the Pacific Ocean?

To get to feeding areas.

Why are certain sea animals found diving deeper around seamounts?

That is because seamounts usually happen to have lots of wildlife and biodiversity that sea animals can feed on.

The depth and duration of dives ______ among species of marine animals.

vary

What are some adaptations that marine animals have done for diving?

• They have evolve large oxygen stores (blood and muscles)

• They try avoiding decompression sickness

• Made some circulatory adjustments - reserved oxygen supply to tissues that need it (brain and heart)

• Reduced metabolic costs during diving

What are diving mammals tolerant to?

To the buildup of lactate from anaerobic metabolism.

True or False: Marine mammals can deplete oxygen stores to almost 0

True.

What does it mean when lung volume decreases as ambient pressure increases?

That means the lungs shrink when the pressure outside of your body rises when they descend into the water upon breaking the surface.

Deep diving animals have…

Small lungs

Why do marine animals not dive with a full lung?

It makes the animals buoyant

The alveoli are first to collapse at high pressure - meaning the place for gas exchange becomes useless

Provides a large store of N2, causing decompression sickness

Why is it important to know that there is a decrease in heart rate during diving?

This is because it helps conserve oxygen and prioritizes blood flow to oxygen sensitive vital organs (such as heart and brain).

Which organs are prioritized during diving and why?

They are prioritized as they have metabolic needs that are necessary for survival.

What is vasoconstriction?

This is when the muscles surrounding the blood vessels tighten to reduce space within