Abstract:
The dive performance, oxygen storage capacity, partitioning of body oxygen reserves and thermoregulatory competence of one of the world's smallest mammalian divers, the star-nosed mole, 'Condylura cristata', were investigated. Only 2.9% of voluntary dives by adult and juvenile star-nosed moles exceeded their respective calculated ADLs. This finding suggests that star-nosed moles rarely exploit anaerobic metabolism while diving, a conclusion supported by the low buffering capacity and glycogen content of the skeletal muscles of these diminutive insectivores. The thermal conductance of live star-nosed moles in 20C water exceeded values previously reported for semi-aquatic mammals, suggesting that this mole possesses limited thermoregulatory ability when immersed in cold-water. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
