Description of respiratory rhythm for white whales ( Delphinapterus leucas ) in captivity

Parameters of external respiration are considered for white whales Delphinapterus leucas living in captivity on the observations in 2009-2012. Low respiration rate (on average 2.2 ± 0.3 breath per minute) and short apnea phase (no more than 1.7 minutes) were observed in the first days after the catc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Izvestiya TINRO
Main Author: Pavel S. Gushcherov
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:Russian
Published: Transactions of the Pacific Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography 2016
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.26428/1606-9919-2016-185-123-131
https://doaj.org/article/83c10cd37d824755bfb12d9c2747f225
Description
Summary:Parameters of external respiration are considered for white whales Delphinapterus leucas living in captivity on the observations in 2009-2012. Low respiration rate (on average 2.2 ± 0.3 breath per minute) and short apnea phase (no more than 1.7 minutes) were observed in the first days after the catch, but both parameters returned to normal values (3.0 ± 0.2 breath per minute, apnea up to 5.1 minutes) in the next 10-34 days. The respiration rate in the morning is higher in comparison with the evening. The respiration rate dependence on the whales motor activity, their age, and water temperature is discussed, as well.