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Journal of Experimental Biology, Vol 200, Issue 11 1623-1626, Copyright © 1997 by Company of Biologists

JOURNAL ARTICLES

Post-dive blood lactate concentrations in emperor penguins, Aptenodytes forsteri

PJ Ponganis, GL Kooyman, LN Starke, CA Kooyman and TG Kooyman
Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093-0204, USA. PPonganis@UCSD.edu

In order to determine an aerobic diving limit (ADL) in emperor penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri), post-dive blood lactate concentrations were measured in penguins foraging at an isolated sea ice hole. Resting lactate concentrations were 1.2-2.7 mmol l-1. Serial samples revealed that lactate level usually peaked within 5 min after dives and that 7-12 min was required for lactate concentrations to decrease from 5-8 mmol l-1 to less than 2.5 mmol l-1. Post-dive lactate level was not elevated above 3 mmol l-1 for dives shorter than 5 min. Two-phase regression analysis revealed a transaction at 5.6 min in the post-dive lactate level versus diving duration relationship. All dives longer than 7 min were associated with lactate concentrations greater than 5 mmol l-1. We conclude that the ADL in emperor penguins ranges between 5 and 7 min. These are the first determinations of post-dive lactate concentrations in any free-diving bird and are currently the only physiological assessment of an ADL in an avian species.

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