Lung Function in Pacific Walruses

It is finally here! The first studio reporting lung function in the Pacific walrus! In this study we measured how the lungs work in three adult walruses using spirometry. We also studied if lung function differed in water or land, as previously observed for California sea lions.

The results confirmed previous findings concluding that the respiratory capacity and function in marine mammals is very different from similarly sized terrestrial mammals.

This work is now published in @JExpBiol and will contribute with new information about the physiological capacity of these animals. This is important to better understand how climate change affects their survival and will help with conservation efforts.

We would like to thank Oceanografic and the animal care professionals that have spent years developing a relationship with these animals to make possible their participation in the study.

Read the study