Diving and Deep-sea Physiology

Circulatory
adjustments to
diving in air
breathers

Parameters of
deep sea

Physiological
responses

1
 Challenges?
120

limited oxygen supply

dive time
dive depth

increased barometric
pressure

2000
(dives over several weeks by one seal)

yellow = elephant seal dives

(average depth = 360 m)
Barometric Pressure

at sea level:

1 atm = 760 mm Hg PO2 = 150 mm Hg

= 760 Torr PO2 in lungs ~
= 100 kPa 100 mm Hg

at 10 m underwater:

2 atm = 1520 mm Hg PO2 in lungs ~

200 mm Hg

oxygen poisoning nitrogen narcosis

decompression sickness
the ‘bends’

avascular necrosis
osteonecrosis

osteonecrosis
anatomical adaptations
Physiological Adaptations

1) increase storage of O2
2) bradycardia (MDR)

HR
Q: why slow heart rate??
3) redistribution of
blood flow (MDR)
*

*
Let’s go deeper

12
Research  history

13
 Characteristics of the deep sea

1. Pressure

at sea level:

1 atm = 760 mm Hg
= 760 Torr
= 100 kPa
Q. Pressure at 1000
m?

at 10 m underwater:

2 atm = 1520 mm Hg

15
Physiological stress due to high hydrostatic
pressures
(Q. Sound familiar?)

1. Reduced enzymatic activity

- pressure stresses weak bonds and 3-D structure
- ligand-substrate interactions disrupted
2. Reduced membrane permeability
- compression of cell membrane reduces molecular
mobility
- reduces fluidity

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1. Reduced enzymatic activity

Na-K-ATPase

Deep Really Deep 17

2. Reduced membrane permeability

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Biophysical stress on macromolecules

TMAO, a piezolyte

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 Q. Is there a depth limit to deep-sea fishes

400 Notoliparis
kermadecensis

300
TMAO (mmol/kg)

200

100

0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000

Depth (m)
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Other characteristics of the deep sea

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1. Limited light

frequency

100

200

300

400

500

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A. Spectral tuning
downwelling  light
bioluminescence
14
12
10
8
6
4

ReBnal  sensiBvity
2
0

440 450 460 470 480 490 500

nm Douglas  et  al  (1998)

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24
Tuning exception Q. Why use red?

Most  deep-­‐sea   Loosejaw    

 fishes dragonfishes

490 nm 525 nm

Malacosteus niger 25
B. Optics
hJp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RM9o4VnfHJU
B. Optics
3. Low Biomass
A. Go big . . . or die

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 B. Need less
Matabolic rate (μmol O2 g 1h 1)
0.1 1 10
0.00

0.25
Depth (1000 m)

0.50

0.75

1.00

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C. Optimize food search
Biomass

Q. What are the

tradeoffs?
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Back to reduced metabolism
Biomass Temperature

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