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Cardiopulmonary Adaptations in Birds for Exercise at High Altitude

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Circulation, Respiration, and Metabolism

Part of the book series: Proceedings in Life Sciences ((LIFE SCIENCES))

Abstract

In general, birds are more tolerant of hypoxia than mammals. At an altitude of 6,100 m, unacclimatized house sparrows (Passer domesticus) are as active and alert as at sea level and can readily fly (Tucker 1968a). On the other hand, unacclimatized mice in a hypobaric chamber at the equivalent of 6,100 m are comatose, have difficulty moving, and show a 10 °C drop in their body temperature. Even at 3,700 m, mice are lethargie, walk slowly, or do not move at ail around the chamber. Resting and unacclimatized men taken to 6,100 m in a hypobaric chamber are in a state of hypoxic collapse after only 10 min and even after acclimatization to this altitude can only do heavy work for 5 min (Tucker 1972).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA

    M. R. Fedde & A. Chatterjee

  2. Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Center, 200 Medical Laboratories, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA

    F. M. Faraci

  3. Department of Zoology, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, 59812, USA

    D. L. Kilgore Jr.

  4. Dean’s Office, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA

    G. H. Cardinet III

Authors
  1. M. R. Fedde
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  2. F. M. Faraci
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  3. D. L. Kilgore Jr.
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  4. G. H. Cardinet III
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  5. A. Chatterjee
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Animal Physiology, University of Liège, 22, Quai Van Beneden, B-4020, Liège, Belgium

    Raymond Gilles

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© 1985 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Fedde, M.R., Faraci, F.M., Kilgore, D.L., Cardinet, G.H., Chatterjee, A. (1985). Cardiopulmonary Adaptations in Birds for Exercise at High Altitude. In: Gilles, R. (eds) Circulation, Respiration, and Metabolism. Proceedings in Life Sciences. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-70610-3_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-70610-3_12

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-70612-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-70610-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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