Skin histology and its role in heat dissipation in three pinniped species
Abstract Background Pinnipeds have a thick blubber layer and may have difficulty maintaining their body temperature during hot weather when on land. The skin is the main thermoregulatory conduit which emits excessive body heat. Methods Thorough evaluation of the skin histology in three pinniped spec...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:04e14bddbf7c4d05a2fe8d33d0ba1930 2023-05-15T16:05:14+02:00 Skin histology and its role in heat dissipation in three pinniped species Khamas Wael A Smodlaka Hrvoje Leach-Robinson Jessica Palmer Lauren 2012-08-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1186/1751-0147-54-46 https://doaj.org/article/04e14bddbf7c4d05a2fe8d33d0ba1930 EN eng BMC http://www.actavetscand.com/content/54/1/46 https://doaj.org/toc/1751-0147 doi:10.1186/1751-0147-54-46 1751-0147 https://doaj.org/article/04e14bddbf7c4d05a2fe8d33d0ba1930 Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica, Vol 54, Iss 1, p 46 (2012) Skin Histology Thermography Pinnipeds Thermoregulation Veterinary medicine SF600-1100 article 2012 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1186/1751-0147-54-46 2022-12-31T06:55:56Z Abstract Background Pinnipeds have a thick blubber layer and may have difficulty maintaining their body temperature during hot weather when on land. The skin is the main thermoregulatory conduit which emits excessive body heat. Methods Thorough evaluation of the skin histology in three pinniped species; the California sea lion- Zalophus californianus , the Pacific harbor seal- Phoca vitulina richardsi , and the Northern elephant seal- Mirounga angustirostris , was conducted to identify the presence, location and distribution of skin structures which contribute to thermoregulation. These structures included hair, adipose tissue, sweat glands, vasculature, and arteriovenous anastomoses (AVA). Thermal imaging was performed on live animals of the same species to correlate histological findings with thermal emission of the skin. Results The presence and distribution of skin structures directly relates to emissivity of the skin in all three species. Emissivity of skin in phocids (Pacific harbor and Northern elephant seal s ) follows a different pattern than skin in otariids (California sea lions). The flipper skin in phocids tends to be the most emissive region during hot weather and least emissive during cold weather. On the contrary in otariids, skin of the entire body has a tendency to be emissive during both hot and cold weather. Conclusion Heat dissipation of the skin directly relates to the presence and distribution of skin structures in all three species. Different skin thermal dissipation patterns were observed in phocid versus otariid seals. Observed thermal patterns can be used for proper understanding of optimum thermal needs of seals housed in research facilities, rescue centers and zoo exhibits. Article in Journal/Newspaper Elephant Seal harbor seal Phoca vitulina Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Pacific Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 54 1 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Skin Histology Thermography Pinnipeds Thermoregulation Veterinary medicine SF600-1100 |
spellingShingle |
Skin Histology Thermography Pinnipeds Thermoregulation Veterinary medicine SF600-1100 Khamas Wael A Smodlaka Hrvoje Leach-Robinson Jessica Palmer Lauren Skin histology and its role in heat dissipation in three pinniped species |
topic_facet |
Skin Histology Thermography Pinnipeds Thermoregulation Veterinary medicine SF600-1100 |
description |
Abstract Background Pinnipeds have a thick blubber layer and may have difficulty maintaining their body temperature during hot weather when on land. The skin is the main thermoregulatory conduit which emits excessive body heat. Methods Thorough evaluation of the skin histology in three pinniped species; the California sea lion- Zalophus californianus , the Pacific harbor seal- Phoca vitulina richardsi , and the Northern elephant seal- Mirounga angustirostris , was conducted to identify the presence, location and distribution of skin structures which contribute to thermoregulation. These structures included hair, adipose tissue, sweat glands, vasculature, and arteriovenous anastomoses (AVA). Thermal imaging was performed on live animals of the same species to correlate histological findings with thermal emission of the skin. Results The presence and distribution of skin structures directly relates to emissivity of the skin in all three species. Emissivity of skin in phocids (Pacific harbor and Northern elephant seal s ) follows a different pattern than skin in otariids (California sea lions). The flipper skin in phocids tends to be the most emissive region during hot weather and least emissive during cold weather. On the contrary in otariids, skin of the entire body has a tendency to be emissive during both hot and cold weather. Conclusion Heat dissipation of the skin directly relates to the presence and distribution of skin structures in all three species. Different skin thermal dissipation patterns were observed in phocid versus otariid seals. Observed thermal patterns can be used for proper understanding of optimum thermal needs of seals housed in research facilities, rescue centers and zoo exhibits. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Khamas Wael A Smodlaka Hrvoje Leach-Robinson Jessica Palmer Lauren |
author_facet |
Khamas Wael A Smodlaka Hrvoje Leach-Robinson Jessica Palmer Lauren |
author_sort |
Khamas Wael A |
title |
Skin histology and its role in heat dissipation in three pinniped species |
title_short |
Skin histology and its role in heat dissipation in three pinniped species |
title_full |
Skin histology and its role in heat dissipation in three pinniped species |
title_fullStr |
Skin histology and its role in heat dissipation in three pinniped species |
title_full_unstemmed |
Skin histology and its role in heat dissipation in three pinniped species |
title_sort |
skin histology and its role in heat dissipation in three pinniped species |
publisher |
BMC |
publishDate |
2012 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1186/1751-0147-54-46 https://doaj.org/article/04e14bddbf7c4d05a2fe8d33d0ba1930 |
geographic |
Pacific |
geographic_facet |
Pacific |
genre |
Elephant Seal harbor seal Phoca vitulina |
genre_facet |
Elephant Seal harbor seal Phoca vitulina |
op_source |
Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica, Vol 54, Iss 1, p 46 (2012) |
op_relation |
http://www.actavetscand.com/content/54/1/46 https://doaj.org/toc/1751-0147 doi:10.1186/1751-0147-54-46 1751-0147 https://doaj.org/article/04e14bddbf7c4d05a2fe8d33d0ba1930 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1186/1751-0147-54-46 |
container_title |
Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica |
container_volume |
54 |
container_issue |
1 |
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1766401139031408640 |