The Bolivian Ornate Tinamou, Nothoprocta ornata, lives higher than 3300 m above sea level and must constantly deal with a restricted availability of atmospheric oxygen, i.e., chronic hypoxia. Interestingly enough, the Ornate Tinamou has a small heart to body ratio, which implies a reduced ability in transporting oxygenated blood to the tissues. In order to increase knowledge about the cardiorespiratory response of the Ornate Tinamou, heart rate (HR) and ventilation frequency (VR) were monitored during resting at 25 °C. The values were compared with those obtained in conditions known to elevate metabolism, i.e., lowered temperature and graded exercise. This was later compared with domestic chickens, Gallus gallus. Results showed a significant increase in HR at 4 °C, 305 ±42 bpm in the Ornate Tinamou when compared with HR at 25°C, 241± 48 bpm (330 ±42bpm and 239 ±32bpm in chicken). A significant increase in VR was only observed in chicken. As expected, with a progressive increase in running speed, a significant increase in HR in both species was observed. At 1,5 km h-1, HR in the Ornate Tinamou was 327 ±5,6 bpm and 342 ±8,5 in chicken. At 3,0 km h -1 HR was 383 ±15 bpm and 404 ±7,9, respectively. However, HR was not significantly higher in the Ornate Tinamou than in chicken, indicating that there must be other physiological adaptations involved in the sufficient oxygen delivery to tissues, e.g. a high blood oxygen affinity or a preference for anaerobic metabolism due to living in a chronic hypoxic environment.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:liu-81900 |
| Date | January 2012 |
| Creators | Gasparini, Isabella |
| Publisher | Linköpings universitet, Biologi, Linköpings universitet, Tekniska högskolan |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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