Deadly diving? Physiological and behavioural management of decompression stress in diving mammals

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TitleDeadly diving? Physiological and behavioural management of decompression stress in diving mammals
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2011
AuthorsHooker, S. K., A. Fahlman, M. J. Moore, N. Aguilar de Soto, Y. Bernaldo de Quiros, A. O. Brubakk, D. P. Costa, A. M. Costidis, S. Dennison, K. J. Falke, A. Fernandez, M. Ferrigno, J. R. Fitz-Clarke, M. M. Garner, D. S. Houser, P. D. Jepson, D. R. Ketten, P. H. Kvadsheim, P. T. Madsen, N. W. Pollock, D. S. Rotstein, T. K. Rowles, S. E. Simmons, W. Van Bonn, P. K. Weathersby, M. J. Weise, T. M. Williams, and P. L. Tyack
JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B
Volumedoi: 10.1098
Start Page1
Issuerspb.2011.2088 Published online
Pagination1-10
Date Published11/2011
Type of ArticleScientific
Keywordsdecompression sickness, diving physiology, embolism, gas bubbles, marine mammals
AbstractDecompression sickness (DCS; ‘the bends’) is a disease associated with gas uptake at pressure. The basic pathology and cause are relatively well known to human divers. Breath-hold diving marine mammals were thought to be relatively immune to DCS owing to multiple anatomical, physiological and behavioral adaptations that reduce nitrogen gas (N2) loading during dives. However, recent observations have shown that gas bubbles may form and tissue injury may occur in marine mammals under certain circumstances. Gas kinetic models based on measured time-depth profiles further suggest the potential occurrence of high blood and tissue N2 tensions. We review evidence for gas-bubble incidence in marine mammal tissues and discuss the theory behind gas loading and bubble formation. We suggest that diving mammals vary their physiological responses according to multiple stressors, and that the perspective on marine mammal diving physiology should change from simply minimizing N2 loading to management of the N2 load. This suggests several avenues for further study, ranging from the effects of gas bubbles at molecular, cellular and organ function levels, to comparative studies relating the presence/absence of gas bubbles to diving behavior. Technological advances in imaging and remote instrumentation are likely to advance this field in coming years.
DOI10.1098/rspb.2011.2088
Short TitleDeadly Diving?