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

首席研究员将使用UCSD Keck中心提供的最先进的医疗技术（MRI， ct扫描）获得三种企鹅（帝企鹅，阿德利企鹅和国王企鹅）的肺和气囊的直接体积。这些数据对于理解企鹅潜水生理学至关重要，因为：(1)呼吸氧储存估计占这些物种总氧储存的很大一部分，(2)气囊与肺体积的比例是预防肺气压损伤（肺挤压）的潜在机制。需要直接测量来评估和解释使用间接技术（基于在压力舱中模拟潜水或在海上潜水时浮力游泳速度计算）获得的数据。这些数据将使研究人员能够验证这样的假设，即深度潜水企鹅的肺体积更小，由此产生的气囊与肺空气毛细血管体积的比例将足以允许帝企鹅将空气压缩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。P.I.寻求从华盛顿角出口帝企鹅幼崽的支持，这些幼崽将在海洋世界饲养，以完成物种比较。更广泛的影响包括在海洋世界公园设立教育展览；设立企鹅研究及保育基金；以及医疗技术方面的学生培训。

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.