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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Main Authors: Peter Tickle, Robert Nudds, Jonathan Codd
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2009-05-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC2682579?pdf=render
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spelling 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
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