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Muscle Oxygen Depletion in Diving Emperor Penguins
Author(s) -
Williams Cassondra L.,
Ponganis Paul J.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.2_supplement.124
Subject(s) - myoglobin , photodiode , wavelength , emperor , saturation (graph theory) , oceanography , analytical chemistry (journal) , chemistry , mineralogy , geology , materials science , biology , optoelectronics , fishery , environmental chemistry , organic chemistry , mathematics , combinatorics
A dual‐wavelength near‐infrared spectrophotometer was developed to measure myoglobin O 2 saturation levels in working muscle during dives of emperor penguins ( Aptenodytes forsteri ). The spectrophotometer probe consists of two surface mount LEDs with wavelengths of 760nm and 810nm and two photodiodes. The probe is connected to a data logger which powers the LEDs and records the reflectance received by the photodiodes at 50 Hz. In lab tests of the probe, the ratio of the reflectance values at 760nm and 810nm declined linearly between 100% and 0% hemoglobin saturation. The recorder was deployed on two emperor penguins diving at an isolated dive hole on the sea ice of McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. During removal of the probe, excision of muscle below the probe provided a sample for a zero calibration. Data revealed a monotonic decline in myoglobin O 2 saturation of pectoral muscle. Prior to the ends of longer dives, the decline in myoglobin O 2 saturation plateaued near the zero value. This research was supported by NSF grant OPP 0538594. CLW was supported by a NIH Marine Biotechnology Training Program Fellowship and a UC Regents Fellowship.