• Saint Xavier University

• BIOL 111

Elephants vs. Elephant Seals: How do aquatic animals hold their breath for so long?

Oxygen allows animals to use metabolic processes such as cellular respiration to provide energy for cells, and therefore

to the entire body. In order for life to continue, then, oxygen must always be available. When organisms start running

low on oxygen, they can switch to anaerobic respiration but much less energy is available and fatigue sets in.

So, how is it that aquatic, air-breathing mammals can spend so much time underwater without coming up for air?

Part 1: Observe the data in the following table:

Answer the following questions using the data provided in the data table above.

1. What patterns/relationships do you see in the data above?

2. What factors listed influence the dive depth and dive time of the organisms?