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Heart rate and metabolic rate of bar‐headed geese flying in hypoxia
Author(s) -
Meir Jessica Ulrika,
Jardine Wilhelmina,
York Julia,
Chua Beverly,
Milsom William K.
Publication year - 2013
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.27.1_supplement.1149.16
Subject(s) - hypoxia (environmental) , heart rate , metabolic rate , biology , altitude (triangle) , oxygen , chemistry , endocrinology , mathematics , blood pressure , geometry , organic chemistry
Bar‐headed geese accomplish the extraordinary feat of migrating over the Himalayas, where oxygen (O 2 ) levels are only ½ ‐ 1/3 those at sea‐level. Although physiological responses and adaptations relevant to this species’ success at high altitude have been previously documented, only one study has measured physiological variables in this bird during flight, and only under conditions of normoxia. In order to assess the roles of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems in maintaining oxygen delivery during flight in hypoxia, we trained bar‐headed geese to fly in a wind tunnel while wearing our physiological data‐logger and a mask system. We were successful in measuring heart rate and metabolic rate in flying geese under conditions of normoxia and hypoxia (10.5% O 2 and 7% O 2 , equivalent to altitudes of ~5,500 and ~8,500 meters respectively). Surprisingly, bar‐headed geese exhibited a remarkably wide range of heart rates and metabolic rates while flying at their preferred flight speed, even on an individual bird basis. Based on preliminary data, mean heart rate during flight changed very little with increasing levels of hypoxia, though mean metabolic rate was reduced. This suggests that the birds settled into more efficient flight patterns in the more challenging hypoxic environment. Bar‐headed geese sustained the same flight durations at equivalent flight speeds under conditions of normoxia and severe hypoxia.