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Journal of Experimental Biology 94,231-250 (1981)
Published by Company of Biologists 1981

Ventilation and Oxygen Extraction in the Bat Pteropus Gouldii During Rest and Steady Flight

STEVEN P. THOMAS ¹

¹ Department of Biological Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, U.S.A., and Department of Zoology, Duke Univeristy, Durham, N.C. 27706, U.S.A.

Tidal volume (V_T) breathing frequency (f) and oxygen consumption (V_O2) were simultaneously measured in the bat Pteropus gouldii during quiet rest at 24 °C, and oxygen extraction (E) values were calculated from these data. V_T and f were also measured at 24 °C from P. gouldii undertaking steady wind-tunnel flight at different speeds and angles, and this information together with appropriate V_O2 data reported previously for this bat were used to calculate flight E values.

The oxygen extraction of resting P. gouldii was similar to that of a resting non-flying mammal of comparable size but lower than that of a resting bird. P. gouldii increases V_T and f almost equally in going from quiet rest to level flight to achieve a 17-fold increase in minute ventilation. Compared to the resting bat, flying P. gouldii hyperventilates its respiratory system relative to its metabolic requirements. The level flight V_T of P. gouldii compares favourably with that expected for a flying bird of the same body mass, and represents almost 90% of the total lung capacity predicted for a non-flying mammal of comparable size. Because of the increased breathing frequency during flight, the minute ventilation requirement of P. gouldii during level flight exceeds that predicted for a similar-sized flying bird. E values calculated for flying P. gouldii are significantly lower than those reported for birds flying at comparable temperatures and flight conditions.

Note:
^*Present address and reprint requests

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