Uncinate process length in birds scales with resting metabolic rate.
A fundamental function of the respiratory system is the supply of oxygen to meet metabolic demand. Morphological constraints on the supply of oxygen, such as the structure of the lung, have previously been studied in birds. Recent research has shown that uncinate processes (UP) are important respira...
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doaj-a213df4f5f9a47f482ed2d29551117062020-11-25T01:35:48ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032009-05-0145e566710.1371/journal.pone.0005667Uncinate process length in birds scales with resting metabolic rate.Peter TickleRobert NuddsJonathan CoddA fundamental function of the respiratory system is the supply of oxygen to meet metabolic demand. Morphological constraints on the supply of oxygen, such as the structure of the lung, have previously been studied in birds. Recent research has shown that uncinate processes (UP) are important respiratory structures in birds, facilitating inspiratory and expiratory movements of the ribs and sternum. Uncinate process length (UPL) is important for determining the mechanical advantage for these respiratory movements. Here we report on the relationship between UPL, body size, metabolic demand and locomotor specialisation in birds. UPL was found to scale isometrically with body mass. Process length is greatest in specialist diving birds, shortest in walking birds and intermediate length in all others relative to body size. Examination of the interaction between the length of the UP and metabolic demand indicated that, relative to body size, species with high metabolic rates have corresponding elongated UP. We propose that elongated UP confer an advantage on the supply of oxygen, perhaps by improving the mechanical advantage and reducing the energetic cost of movements of the ribs and sternum.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC2682579?pdf=render |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Peter Tickle Robert Nudds Jonathan Codd |
spellingShingle |
Peter Tickle Robert Nudds Jonathan Codd Uncinate process length in birds scales with resting metabolic rate. PLoS ONE |
author_facet |
Peter Tickle Robert Nudds Jonathan Codd |
author_sort |
Peter Tickle |
title |
Uncinate process length in birds scales with resting metabolic rate. |
title_short |
Uncinate process length in birds scales with resting metabolic rate. |
title_full |
Uncinate process length in birds scales with resting metabolic rate. |
title_fullStr |
Uncinate process length in birds scales with resting metabolic rate. |
title_full_unstemmed |
Uncinate process length in birds scales with resting metabolic rate. |
title_sort |
uncinate process length in birds scales with resting metabolic rate. |
publisher |
Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
series |
PLoS ONE |
issn |
1932-6203 |
publishDate |
2009-05-01 |
description |
A fundamental function of the respiratory system is the supply of oxygen to meet metabolic demand. Morphological constraints on the supply of oxygen, such as the structure of the lung, have previously been studied in birds. Recent research has shown that uncinate processes (UP) are important respiratory structures in birds, facilitating inspiratory and expiratory movements of the ribs and sternum. Uncinate process length (UPL) is important for determining the mechanical advantage for these respiratory movements. Here we report on the relationship between UPL, body size, metabolic demand and locomotor specialisation in birds. UPL was found to scale isometrically with body mass. Process length is greatest in specialist diving birds, shortest in walking birds and intermediate length in all others relative to body size. Examination of the interaction between the length of the UP and metabolic demand indicated that, relative to body size, species with high metabolic rates have corresponding elongated UP. We propose that elongated UP confer an advantage on the supply of oxygen, perhaps by improving the mechanical advantage and reducing the energetic cost of movements of the ribs and sternum. |
url |
http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC2682579?pdf=render |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT petertickle uncinateprocesslengthinbirdsscaleswithrestingmetabolicrate AT robertnudds uncinateprocesslengthinbirdsscaleswithrestingmetabolicrate AT jonathancodd uncinateprocesslengthinbirdsscaleswithrestingmetabolicrate |
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