Assessing limitations to harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) habitat utilization through the quantification of physiological adaptations for diving
Presentation Abstract
Harbor porpoise abundance and/or distribution patterns in the Salish Sea have changed in recent decades. Stock assessments and studies on habit use are critical, yet physiological studies are also important to elucidate how porpoises operate in their environment and to identify potential limitations in habitat use. For example, physiological adaptations that allow marine mammals to forage underwater dictate maximum dive duration and depth as well as influence adaptability to changes in prey distribution and other perturbations. Such adaptations in the muscle for diving include elevated concentrations of myoglobin (binds to oxygen and provides muscle oxygen) and enhanced buffering capacity (counteracts pH changes associated with lactic acid accumulation). Data on myoglobin content are used, in combination with data on other body oxygen stores and body size, to calculate aerobic dive limit (ADL, maximum dive duration supported by aerobic metabolism). Previous work has shown that muscle biochemistry varies across species and that a developmental period is required for juveniles to attain mature muscle biochemistry and accomplish adult dive durations. Thus to gain a better understanding of diving abilities and potential habitat limitations in Salish Sea harbor porpoises, we quantified muscle myoglobin content and acid buffering capacity of muscle collected from stranded porpoises spanning all age-classes. We found that at birth, porpoises have 51% and 69% of adult myoglobin content and buffering capacity, respectively. Porpoises achieve adult myoglobin content and buffering capacity levels by 9-10 months and 2-3 years postpartum, respectively. Mass-specific muscle oxygen stores for neonates and calves are only 40% and 77% of that of adults. Limited mass-specific oxygen reserves in combination with small body size constrain the diving capacity of immature harbor porpoises. As a result, the ADL for a 12 kg neonate (ADL: 3.55 min) is only 60% of the ADL for a 50 kg adult (ADL: 5.89 min). The shorter ADLs for younger age-classes likely influence foraging behaviors of both immature animals as well as females with dependent young. This may result in partitioning of prey resources, and potentially habitat utilization, between immature animals, lactating females, and other members of the population.
Session Title
Session S-05D: Marine Birds and Mammals of the Salish Sea: Identifying Patterns and Causes of Change - II
Conference Track
Species and Food Webs
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2014 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
1-5-2014 5:00 PM
End Date
1-5-2014 6:30 PM
Location
Room 6C
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Harbor porpoise--Physiology--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Harbor porpoise--Habitat--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Harbor porpoise--Behavior--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Assessing limitations to harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) habitat utilization through the quantification of physiological adaptations for diving
Room 6C
Harbor porpoise abundance and/or distribution patterns in the Salish Sea have changed in recent decades. Stock assessments and studies on habit use are critical, yet physiological studies are also important to elucidate how porpoises operate in their environment and to identify potential limitations in habitat use. For example, physiological adaptations that allow marine mammals to forage underwater dictate maximum dive duration and depth as well as influence adaptability to changes in prey distribution and other perturbations. Such adaptations in the muscle for diving include elevated concentrations of myoglobin (binds to oxygen and provides muscle oxygen) and enhanced buffering capacity (counteracts pH changes associated with lactic acid accumulation). Data on myoglobin content are used, in combination with data on other body oxygen stores and body size, to calculate aerobic dive limit (ADL, maximum dive duration supported by aerobic metabolism). Previous work has shown that muscle biochemistry varies across species and that a developmental period is required for juveniles to attain mature muscle biochemistry and accomplish adult dive durations. Thus to gain a better understanding of diving abilities and potential habitat limitations in Salish Sea harbor porpoises, we quantified muscle myoglobin content and acid buffering capacity of muscle collected from stranded porpoises spanning all age-classes. We found that at birth, porpoises have 51% and 69% of adult myoglobin content and buffering capacity, respectively. Porpoises achieve adult myoglobin content and buffering capacity levels by 9-10 months and 2-3 years postpartum, respectively. Mass-specific muscle oxygen stores for neonates and calves are only 40% and 77% of that of adults. Limited mass-specific oxygen reserves in combination with small body size constrain the diving capacity of immature harbor porpoises. As a result, the ADL for a 12 kg neonate (ADL: 3.55 min) is only 60% of the ADL for a 50 kg adult (ADL: 5.89 min). The shorter ADLs for younger age-classes likely influence foraging behaviors of both immature animals as well as females with dependent young. This may result in partitioning of prey resources, and potentially habitat utilization, between immature animals, lactating females, and other members of the population.
