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Estimating energetics in cetaceans from respiratory frequency: why we need to understand physiology.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Fahlman, A; van der Hoop, J; Moore, MJ; Levine, G; Rocho-Levine, J; Brodsky, M
Published in: Biology open
April 2016

The accurate estimation of field metabolic rates (FMR) in wild animals is a key component of bioenergetic models, and is important for understanding the routine limitations for survival as well as individual responses to disturbances or environmental changes. Several methods have been used to estimate FMR, including accelerometer-derived activity budgets, isotope dilution techniques, and proxies from heart rate. Counting the number of breaths is another method used to assess FMR in cetaceans, which is attractive in its simplicity and the ability to measure respiration frequency from visual cues or data loggers. This method hinges on the assumption that over time a constant tidal volume (VT) and O2exchange fraction (ΔO2) can be used to predict FMR. To test whether this method of estimating FMR is valid, we measured breath-by-breath tidal volumes and expired O2levels of bottlenose dolphins, and computed the O2consumption rate (V̇O2 ) before and after a pre-determined duration of exercise. The measuredV̇O2 was compared with three methods to estimate FMR. Each method to estimateV̇O2 included variable VT and/or ΔO2 Two assumption-based methods overestimatedV̇O2 by 216-501%. Once the temporal changes in cardio-respiratory physiology, such as variation in VT and ΔO2, were taken into account, pre-exercise restingV̇O2 was predicted to within 2%, and post-exerciseV̇O2 was overestimated by 12%. Our data show that a better understanding of cardiorespiratory physiology significantly improves the ability to estimate metabolic rate from respiratory frequency, and further emphasizes the importance of eco-physiology for conservation management efforts.

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Published In

Biology open

DOI

EISSN

2046-6390

ISSN

2046-6390

Publication Date

April 2016

Volume

5

Issue

4

Start / End Page

436 / 442

Related Subject Headings

  • 41 Environmental sciences
  • 32 Biomedical and clinical sciences
  • 31 Biological sciences
  • 0699 Other Biological Sciences
 

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Fahlman, A., van der Hoop, J., Moore, M. J., Levine, G., Rocho-Levine, J., & Brodsky, M. (2016). Estimating energetics in cetaceans from respiratory frequency: why we need to understand physiology. Biology Open, 5(4), 436–442. https://doi.org/10.1242/bio.017251
Fahlman, A., J. van der Hoop, M. J. Moore, G. Levine, J. Rocho-Levine, and M. Brodsky. “Estimating energetics in cetaceans from respiratory frequency: why we need to understand physiology.Biology Open 5, no. 4 (April 2016): 436–42. https://doi.org/10.1242/bio.017251.
Fahlman A, van der Hoop J, Moore MJ, Levine G, Rocho-Levine J, Brodsky M. Estimating energetics in cetaceans from respiratory frequency: why we need to understand physiology. Biology open. 2016 Apr;5(4):436–42.
Fahlman, A., et al. “Estimating energetics in cetaceans from respiratory frequency: why we need to understand physiology.Biology Open, vol. 5, no. 4, Apr. 2016, pp. 436–42. Epmc, doi:10.1242/bio.017251.
Fahlman A, van der Hoop J, Moore MJ, Levine G, Rocho-Levine J, Brodsky M. Estimating energetics in cetaceans from respiratory frequency: why we need to understand physiology. Biology open. 2016 Apr;5(4):436–442.
Journal cover image

Published In

Biology open

DOI

EISSN

2046-6390

ISSN

2046-6390

Publication Date

April 2016

Volume

5

Issue

4

Start / End Page

436 / 442

Related Subject Headings

  • 41 Environmental sciences
  • 32 Biomedical and clinical sciences
  • 31 Biological sciences
  • 0699 Other Biological Sciences