How to Dive Deeper and Longer: Air Sac and Lung Volumes of Penguins

首席调查员将使用加州大学圣迭戈分校凯克中心提供的最先进的医学技术(核磁共振、CT扫描)，直接获得三种企鹅(皇帝、阿德利和国王)的肺和气囊体积。这些数据对于理解企鹅潜水生理学是至关重要的，因为：(1)呼吸氧气储存被估计为企鹅体内总氧气储存的很大一部分，以及(2)气囊与肺容量的比率是预防肺气压伤(肺挤压)的潜在机制。需要直接测量来评价和解释使用间接技术获得的数据(根据在压力室中模拟潜水或在海上潜水时浮力-游泳速度计算)。这些数据将使研究人员能够检验这样一种假设，即潜水较深的企鹅的比肺体积更小，由此得出的气囊与肺毛细血管体积的比率将足以使帝企鹅的空气压缩60倍，而不会有“肺挤压”的风险。阿德利企鹅和国王企鹅已经可以参与这项研究。PI.寻求支持，从华盛顿角出口将在海洋世界饲养的帝企鹅幼崽，以完成物种比较。更广泛的影响包括在海洋世界公园创建教育展品；建立企鹅研究和保护基金；以及对学生进行医疗技术培训。

The principal investigator will obtain direct lung and air sac volume for three species of penguin (Emperor, Adelie, and King), using state of the art medical technology (MRI, CT-scan) available at the UCSD Keck Center. These data are critical to understanding penguin dive physiology because: (1) The respiratory oxygen store is estimated to be a significant fraction of the total oxygen body store in these species, and (2) the ratio of air sac to lung volume is a potential mechanism for the prevention of pulmonary barotrauma (lung squeeze). Direct measurements are needed to evaluate and interpret data obtained using indirect techniques (based on simulated dives in pressure chambers or on buoyancy-swim speed calculations during dives at sea). The data will allow the investigators to test the hypothesis that mass-specific lung volumes are smaller in deeper diving penguins, and that the resulting ratio of air sac to lung air capillary volume will be sufficient to allow for 60-fold compression of air in Emperor penguins without risk of 'lung squeeze'. Adelie and King penguins are already available for participation in the study. The P.I. seeks support to export Emperor penguin chicks from Cape Washington, to be raised at Sea World, to round out the species comparisons. Broader impacts include creation of educational exhibits at Sea World Parks; establishment of a research and conservation fund for penguins; and student training in medical techniques.