Diving Physiology of Marine Mammals and Seabirds 1st Edition by Paul J Ponganis ISBN 0521765552 9780521765558

Analysing the physiological adaptations of marine mammals and seabirds, this book provides a comprehensive overview of what allows these species to overcome the challenges of diving to depth on a single breath of air. Through comparative reviews of texts on diving physiology and behaviour from the last seventy-five years, Ponganis combines this research into one succinct volume. Investigating the diving performance of marine mammals and seabirds, this book illustrates how physiological processes to extreme hypoxia and pressure are relevant to the advancement of our understanding of basic cellular processes and human pathologies. This book underscores the biomedical and ecological relevance of the anatomical, physiological and molecular/biophysical adaptations of these animals to enable further research in this area. An important resource for students and researchers, this text not only provides an essential overview of recent research in the field, but will stimulate further research into the behaviour and physiology of diving.

• A unique analysis of the diving behaviour of both marine mammals and seabirds in one succinct volume, with an additional chapter on human diving physiology
• Reviews how the diving cardiovascular response reflects principles of myocardial oxygen supply/demand and applies this to treatments used in human medicine
• Reviews topics not usually seen in diving reviews, including antioxidants and avoidance of reperfusion injury, surfactant function in the lung, regulation of pulmonary vascular resistance, and the potential roles of gasotransmitters