Thermoregulatory Capabilities of the Leatherback Turtle, Dermochelys Coriacea

本研究的目的是确定棱皮龟体温过高的细胞、生理和生物物理基础。将检验以下假设：1.棱皮肌的组织代谢率高于绿海龟，介于绿海龟和哺乳动物之间。2.有氧代谢是筑巢活动和其他运动的主要能量来源。3.棱皮鱼在温暖(热带)和寒冷(北温带)水域活动和休息时，保持持续较高的体温。4.在陆地上和在温暖(热带)水域锻炼时，流向皮肤和周围的血液增加，而在寒冷(北温带)水域时，流向皮肤和周围的血液减少。这些假设将通过完成以下实验来验证：1.使用Gilson呼吸仪测量温度在5至35摄氏度的棱皮龟和绿海龟胸肌的组织代谢率。2.测定热带和北温带地区成年棱皮鱼在陆地休息和活动时的有氧和无氧代谢率。3.使用多通道声波发射器测量在冷热水域中休息和活动的海龟的体温。4.使用133氙气冲洗技术测量皮肤血流量。最后，这些数据将被用来测试一个数学模型，该模型预测了身体大小和代谢率对棱皮鱼在陆地和水中的热量传递和体温的影响。

The objective of this research is to determine the cellular, physiological, and biophysical basis for gigantothermy in the leatherback sea turtle. The following hypotheses will be tested: 1. The tissue metabolic rate of leatherback muscle is elevated above that of green turtles and intermediate between that of green turtles and mammals. 2. Aerobic metabolism is the primary source of energy for activity of nesting, and other exercise. 3. Leatherbacks maintain constant elevated body temperatures while active and at rest in both warm (tropical) and cold (north temperate) waters. 4. Blood flow to the skin and periphery is increased when on land, and while exercising in warm (tropical) waters, and reduced when in cold (north temperate) water. These hypotheses will be tested by completing the following experiments: 1. Measure the tissue metabolic rate of the pectoral muscles of leatherbacks and green turtles at temperatures from 5 to 35oC using a Gilson respirometer. 2. Measure the aerobic and anaerobic metabolic rates of adult leatherbacks while they are resting and active on land in the tropics and north temperate region. 3. Use multichannel sonic transmitters to measure the body temperature of resting and active turtles in warm and cold waters. 4. Measure skin blood flow using the 133xenon washout technique. Finally these data will be used to test a mathematical model that predicts the effects of body size and metabolic rate on heat transfer and body temperatures of leatherbacks on land and in the water.//