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Scaling of heart rate with breathing frequency and body mass in cetaceans
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Scaling of heart rate with breathing frequency and body mass in cetaceans
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Journal Article
Scaling of heart rate with breathing frequency and body mass in cetaceans
2021
Overview
Plasticity in the cardiac function of a marine mammal facilitates rapid adjustments to the contrasting metabolic demands of breathing at the surface and diving during an extended apnea. By matching their heart rate (𝑓H) to their immediate physiological needs, a marine mammal can improve its metabolic efficiency and maximize the proportion of time spent underwater. Respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) is a known modulation of 𝑓H that is driven by respiration and has been suggested to increase cardiorespiratory efficiency. To investigate the presence of RSA in cetaceans and the relationship between 𝑓H, breathing rate (𝑓R) and body mass (𝑀b), we measured simultaneous 𝑓H and 𝑓R in five cetacean species in human care. We found that a higher 𝑓R was associated with a higher mean instantaneous 𝑓H (i𝑓H) and minimum i𝑓H of the RSA. By contrast, 𝑓H scaled inversely with 𝑀b such that larger animals had lower mean and minimum i𝑓Hs of the RSA. There was a significant allometric relationship between maximum i𝑓H of the RSA and 𝑀b, but not 𝑓R, whichmay indicate that this parameter is set by physical laws and not adjusted dynamically with physiological needs. RSA was significantly affected by 𝑓R and was greatly reduced with small increases in 𝑓R. Ultimately, these data showthat surface 𝑓Hs of cetaceans are complex and the 𝑓H patterns we observed are controlled by several factors. We suggest the importance of considering RSA when interpreting 𝑓H measurements and particularly how 𝑓R may drive 𝑓H changes that are important for efficient gas exchange.
This article is part of the theme issue 'Measuring physiology in freeliving animals (Part I)'.
Publisher
Royal Society,The Royal Society
