Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Science 3 July 1970:
Vol. 169. no. 3940, pp. 82 - 84
DOI: 10.1126/science.169.3940.82
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Articles

Bronchograms and Tracheograms of Seals under Pressure

G. L. Kooyman 1, D. D. Hammond 1, and J. P. Schroeder 1

1 Physiological Research Laboratory, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92037

Radiograms of the upper portion of the respiratory system were obtained at pressures up to 31.6 atmospheres absolute in the Weddell seal, Leptonychotes weddelli, and the northern elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris. The trachea was considerably compressed but not fully collapsed at the highest pressures. No measurable change in the size of the bronchioles and smaller bronchi was observed. Measurements of total lung volume obtained simultaneously showed that the seals consistently dived with a small volume.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Successful foraging zones of southern elephant seals from the Kerguelen Islands in relation to oceanographic conditions.
F. Bailleul, J.-B. Charrassin, P. Monestiez, F. Roquet, M. Biuw, and C. Guinet (2007)
Phil Trans R Soc B 362, 2169-2181
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Surfactant from diving aquatic mammals.
R. G. Spragg, P. J. Ponganis, J. J. Marsh, G. A. Rau, and W. Bernhard (2004)
J Appl Physiol 96, 1626-1632
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Intermittent Swimming by Mammals: A Strategy for Increasing Energetic Efficiency During Diving.
T. M. Williams (2001)
Integr. Comp. Biol. 41, 166-176
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Sink or Swim: Strategies for Cost-Efficient Diving by Marine Mammals.
T. M. Williams, R. W. Davis, L. A. Fuiman, J. Francis, B. J. Le Boeuf, M. Horning, J. Calambokidis, and D. A. Croll (2000)
Science 288, 133-136
   Abstract »    Full Text »
Seal lungs collapse during free diving: evidence from arterial nitrogen tensions.
K. Falke, R. Hill, J Qvist, R. Schneider, M Guppy, G. Liggins, P. Hochachka, R. Elliott, and W. Zapol (1985)
Science 229, 556-558
   Abstract »    PDF »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)