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    • PNW cetacean muscle biochemistry - Muscle Myoglobin Content and Acid Buffering Capacity of Cetaceans from the Pacific Northwest to Assess Dive Capacity and the Development of Diving Capabilities

    Metadata Updated: May 24, 2025

    This project assesses the development of two important skeletal muscle adaptations for diving (enhanced myoglobin content and acid buffering capacities) in a range of cetaceans from the Pacific Northwest in order to understand constraints on diving capacities (primarily dive duration) with development. Myoglobin is an important oxygen store for supporting aerobic diving, while enhanced buffering capacity could support anaerobic metabolism during apnea. Yet little is known about the post-natal development of muscle biochemistry in cetaceans.

    To assess the development of these important adaptations in cetaceans, muscle myoglobin content and buffering capacity due to non-bicarbonate buffers were measured in the longissimus dorsi of harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), killer whale (Orcinus orca), and Dall's porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli).

    Dawn Noren is the principal investigator from NWFSC. Projects on individual species within this larger project include different collaborators. For the project on harbor porpoise (completed), Shawn Noren (UCSC) and Joe Gaydos (SeaDoc Society) are external collaborators. Dawn Noren is responsible for project oversight, Shawn Noren trained Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) staff on laboratory procedures for sample analysis and Joe Gaydos collected samples. The specific work includes experimental design, data collection, data analysis, and writing for submission to peer-reviewed journals. These projects are ongoing until sufficient samples are collected for sound statistical analysis. This research addresses some data gaps associated with dive capacities and potential limitations in habitat use by local cetaceans. Muscle adaptation to diving.

    Access & Use Information

    License: No license information was provided. If this work was prepared by an officer or employee of the United States government as part of that person's official duties it is considered a U.S. Government Work.

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    Dates

    Metadata Date May 15, 2025
    Metadata Created Date October 19, 2024
    Metadata Updated Date May 24, 2025
    Reference Date(s) August 4, 2013 (creation), April 13, 2016 (publication)
    Frequency Of Update

    Metadata Source

    Harvested from NMFS NWFSC

    Other Data Resources

    Additional Metadata

    Resource Type Dataset
    Metadata Date May 15, 2025
    Metadata Created Date October 19, 2024
    Metadata Updated Date May 24, 2025
    Reference Date(s) August 4, 2013 (creation), April 13, 2016 (publication)
    Responsible Party (Point of Contact, Custodian)
    Contact Email
    Guid gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:20598
    Access Constraints Cite As: Northwest Fisheries Science Center, [Date of Access]: PNW cetacean muscle biochemistry - Muscle Myoglobin Content and Acid Buffering Capacity of Cetaceans from the Pacific Northwest to Assess Dive Capacity and the Development of Diving Capabilities [Data Date Range], https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/20598., Access Constraints: NA
    Bbox East Long -122.2962
    Bbox North Lat 47.6549
    Bbox South Lat 47.6449
    Bbox West Long -122.3062
    Coupled Resource
    Frequency Of Update
    Harvest Object Id 1edcf644-6a3f-4105-b777-6636dfc22651
    Harvest Source Id ba43549f-8268-499d-bec8-91b164cb168f
    Harvest Source Title NMFS NWFSC
    Licence NOAA provides no warranty, nor accepts any liability occurring from any incomplete, incorrect, or misleading data, or from any incorrect, incomplete, or misleading use of the data. It is the responsibility of the user to determine whether or not the data is suitable for the intended purpose.
    Lineage Biochemical analysis of muscle.
    Metadata Language eng
    Metadata Type geospatial
    Old Spatial {"type": "Polygon", "coordinates": [[[-122.3062, 47.6449], [-122.2962, 47.6449], [-122.2962, 47.6549], [-122.3062, 47.6549], [-122.3062, 47.6449]]]}
    Progress completed
    Spatial Data Service Type
    Spatial Reference System
    Spatial Harvester True
    Temporal Extent Begin 2004-01-01

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