Explore the challenges faced by large, fierce animals in their struggle for survival in this 2019 Bidder Lecture given by Terrie M. Williams at SEBAMM Seville. Delve into the evolutionary designs of marine mammals, examining their unique adaptations for aquatic living and the metabolic demands of swimming locomotion. Discover how advanced tracking technologies like GPS collars and accelerometers provide insights into animal behavior and physiology. Investigate the specific vulnerabilities of polar bears, sea otters, and narwhals, considering the impacts of climate change, oil spills, and ocean noise pollution on these species. Learn about the paradoxical escape responses in deep-diving mammals and the potential consequences of human activities on their survival. Gain a comprehensive understanding of the biological "Achilles' heels" that put these magnificent creatures at risk of extinction and the importance of conservation efforts to protect them.
Touching Extinction - Biological Achilles' Heels and the Survival of Big, Fierce Animals
Society for Experimental Biology via YouTube
Overview
Syllabus
Intro
Touching Extinction
George Parker Bidder III
SUDAN 1973-2018
Marine Mammal Evolutionary Designs
Design Challenges for Aquatic Living
The importance of food processing in the evolution of marine mammals
FEEDING THE METABOLIC MACHINE
SWIMMING LOCOMOTION IS COSTLY FOR RECENT MARINE MAMMALS
GPS / Accelerometer / Magnetometer / Camera Collars and Tags
POLAR BEAR ACHILLES' HEEL
What Could Go Wrong?
WARMING THE METABOLIC MACHINE
Grooming activity = 13.7 percent (2.2 MJ) of daily energy cost of sea otters
The Effects of Oil on Sea Otters
Effects of Hypothermia
Not enough hours in the day for the oiled otter to groom, forage, and process food to compensate for heat loss
SUBMERGING THE METABOLIC MACHINE
A limited SCUBA tank
NARWHAL (Monodon monoceros)
Deepest Diving Marine Mammals
RETRIEVING THE HEART RATE RECORDER
Run silent, run deep
PARADOXICAL ESCAPE RESPONSE IN DEEP DIVERS
This cardiac conflict is a contributing cause of deaths in tri-athletes during races
The Threat of Oceanic Noise
POST-EXPOSURE PHYSIOLOGY
Effects of Seismic Pulses Exercise level
Behavioral Response
Post-Dive Breathing Frequency
High Energetic Demand of Flight
82 billion neurons firing flawlessly
ARE ALL BRAINS THE SAME?
SUMMARY
Taught by
Society for Experimental Biology
