Locomotor behaviours and respiratory pattern of the Mediterranean fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) |
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Authors: | Lafortuna Claudio L Jahoda Maddalena Azzellino Arianna Saibene Franco Colombini Angelo |
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Institution: | (1) Istituto di Bioimmagini e Fisiologia Molecolare del Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Cervi 93, Segrate, 20090 , Milan, Italy;(2) Tethys Research Institute, via Gadio 2, 20121 Milan, Italy |
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Abstract: | Twenty-four Mediterranean fin whales were tracked in open sea with a method based on the assessment of the animal differential position in respect of the observer's absolute position aboard a vessel, with the concomitant recording of the respiratory activity. Short distance video recording was also performed in two whales, permitting the simultaneous determination of single breath expiratory (TE) and inspiratory (TI) durations. In the 24 whales swimming at an average velocity of 1.39 (0.47) m·s–1 mean (SD), range: 0.62–2.44 m·s–1], 2068 breaths organized in 477 respiratory cycles were observed. Each cycle entailed a prolonged apnoea dive phase 225 (91) s, Tdive) followed by a period near the surface 62 (28) s, surfacing], during which a series of breaths 4.6 (1.8)] was performed at short intervals. On the basis of track length and swimming velocity, two groups of animals were devised differing for convolution of the course (p<0.001), extension of ranging territory (p<0.01) and horizontal swimming velocity (p<0.05), which may represent two distinct behaviours. A possibly general mechanism of control of breathing in cetaceans was found, consistent with a model of constant tidal volume and variable respiratory frequency. Coherently with this model,
TE was independent of TI or Tdive, in line with a passive expiration, while
TI appeared to be negatively correlated with
Tdive (p<0.05), otherwise suggesting, similarly with terrestrial mammals, a significant role of hypercapnic stimulation. The estimated O2
consumption of about 150 l·min–1 is in line with the general allometric regression for mammals and corresponds to an energetic expenditure of 85–95 kJ·kg–1·day–1.Partially presented as a poster at The World Marine Mammal Science Conference and 12th Annual Conference of the European Cetacean Society, Monaco (Montecarlo), 20–24 January 1998.Angelo Colombini provided technical assistance. |
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Keywords: | Mediterranean fin whale Open sea tracking Respiratory pattern |
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