sarlo518
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THE PHYSIOLOGY OF BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS (
TURSIOPS
TRUNCATUS): HEART RATE, METABOLIC RATE AND PLASMA
LACTATE CONCENTRATION DURING EXERCISE
LACTATE CONCENTRATION DURING EXERCISE
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Summary
Despite speculation about the swimming efficiency of cetaceans, few studies have
investigated the exercise physiology of these mammals. In view of this, we examined the
physiological responses and locomotor energetics of two exercising adult
Despite speculation about the swimming efficiency of cetaceans, few studies have
investigated the exercise physiology of these mammals. In view of this, we examined the
physiological responses and locomotor energetics of two exercising adult
T u r s i o p s
t r u n c a t u s
. Oxygen consumption, heart rate, respiratory rate and post-exercise blood lactate
concentration were determined for animals either pushing against a load cell or swimming
next to a boat. Many of the energetic and cardiorespiratory responses of exercising
dolphins were similar to those of terrestrial mammals. Average heart rate, respiratory rate
and oxygen consumption for dolphins pushing against a load cell increased linearly with
exercise levels up to 58kg for a female dolphin and 85kg for a male. Oxygen consumption
did not increase with higher loads. Maximum rate of oxygen consumption (
next to a boat. Many of the energetic and cardiorespiratory responses of exercising
dolphins were similar to those of terrestrial mammals. Average heart rate, respiratory rate
and oxygen consumption for dolphins pushing against a load cell increased linearly with
exercise levels up to 58kg for a female dolphin and 85kg for a male. Oxygen consumption
did not increase with higher loads. Maximum rate of oxygen consumption (
V˙O·max) ranged
from 19.8 to 29.4 m lO
2 k g21 m i n21, which was 7–11 times the calculated standard
metabolic rate (
V˙O·s t d) of the dolphins. Blood lactate concentration increased with exercise
loads that exceeded
V˙O·max. The maximum lactate concentration was 101.4m gd l21
( 1 1 . 3m m o l l
21) for the male, and 120.6 m gd l21 ( 1 3 . 6m m o l l21) for the female. When
swimming at 2.1ms
21, heart rate, respiratory rate and post-exercise blood lactate
concentration of the dolphins were not significantly different from values at rest. The cost
of transport at this speed was 1.29±0.05J k g
of transport at this speed was 1.29±0.05J k g
21 m i n21. The energetic profile of the
exercising bottlenose dolphin resembles that of a relatively sedentary mammal if the
exercise variables defined for terrestrial mammals are used. However, the energetic cost of
swimming for this cetacean is low in comparison to that of other aquatic and semi-aquatic
m a m m a l s .exercise variables defined for terrestrial mammals are used. However, the energetic cost of
swimming for this cetacean is low in comparison to that of other aquatic and semi-aquatic
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