Extreme diving in mammals: first estimates of behavioural aerobic dive limits in Cuvier's beaked whales
Quick, N.J.; Cioffi, W.R.; Shearer, J.M.; Fahlman, A.; Read, A.J. (2020). Extreme diving in mammals: first estimates of behavioural aerobic dive limits in Cuvier's beaked whales. J. Exp. Biol. 223(18): jeb222109. https://dx.doi.org/10.1242/jeb.222109 In: The Journal of Experimental Biology. Cambridge University Press: London. ISSN 0022-0949; e-ISSN 1477-9145, more |  |
| Keywords | Metabolic rate
Ziphius cavirostris Cuvier, 1823 [WoRMS]
| | Author keywords | ADL, Dive duration, Diving behaviour |
| Authors | | Top | - Quick, N.J.
- Cioffi, W.R.
- Shearer, J.M.
| - Fahlman, A.
- Read, A.J., more
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| Abstract | We analysed 3680 dives from 23 satellite-linked tags deployed on Cuvier's beaked whales to assess the relationship between long duration dives and inter-deep dive intervals and to estimate aerobic dive limit (ADL). The median duration of presumed foraging dives was 59 min and 5% of dives exceeded 77.7 min. We found no relationship between the longest 5% of dive durations and the following inter-deep dive interval nor any relationship with the ventilation period immediately prior to or following a long dive. We suggest that Cuvier's beaked whales have low metabolic rates, high oxygen storage capacities and a high acid-buffering capacity to deal with the by-products of both aerobic and anaerobic metabolism, which enables them to extend dive durations and exploit their bathypelagic foraging habitats. |
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