In pursuit of Irving and Scholander: a review of oxygen store management in seals and penguins Available to Purchase

Since the introduction of the aerobic dive limit (ADL) 30 years ago, the concept that most dives of marine mammals and sea birds are aerobic in nature has dominated the interpretation of their diving behavior and foraging ecology. Although there have been many measurements of body oxygen stores, there have been few investigations of the actual depletion of those stores during dives. Yet, it is the pattern, rate and magnitude of depletion of O₂ stores that underlie the ADL. Therefore, in order to assess strategies of O₂ store management, we review (a) the magnitude of O₂ stores, (b) past studies of O₂ store depletion and (c) our recent investigations of O₂ store utilization during sleep apnea and dives of elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) and during dives of emperor penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri). We conclude with the implications of these findings for (a) the physiological responses underlying O₂ store utilization, (b) the physiological basis of the ADL and (c) the value of extreme hypoxemic tolerance and the significance of the avoidance of re-perfusion injury in these animals.