Suppose you were designing a marine mammal. What would they need to live in the ocean? How would you keep them warm? What design features would allow them to dive for very long periods to extreme depths? Do they need water to drink? How would they minimize the cost of swimming, and how would they find their prey in the deep and dark?
These questions and more are examined in detail throughout Marine Mammal Physiology, whichexplores how marine mammals live in the sea from a physiological point of view. This undergraduate textbook considers the essential aspects of what makes a marine mammal different from terrestrial mammals, beyond just their environment. It focuses on the physiological and biochemical traits that have allowed this group of mammals to effectively exploit the marine environment that is so hostile to humans.
Table of Contents
Hydrodynamics
Energy for Exercise: The Cost of Motion in Marine Mammals
Oxygen Stores and Diving
Under Pressure
Thermoregulation
Acoustics
Sensing in Dark and Murky Waters
Hydration
Nutrition
Feeding Mechanisms
Fasting
Postdelivery
Health and Disease
Ecotoxicology
Sharing Earth’s Oceans
More Questions and Mysteries
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