Task 3 (D4)
Habitat
The deer mouse is found throughout North America, preferring woodlands, but also appearing in desert areas.
The deer mouse is found throughout North America, preferring woodlands, but also appearing in desert areas.
Altered red blood cell
The deer mouse is particularly suitable for studies on hypoxic stress because it inhabits the widest range of altitudes of any North American mammal, and it has a large degree of genetic variation for hemoglobin.
Altered blood pressure
when at a high altitude, their heart pumps faster, moving oxygen around the body quicker. Compared to when they are at a low altitude their blood pressure is lower because there is more oxygen in the air.
when at a high altitude, their heart pumps faster, moving oxygen around the body quicker. Compared to when they are at a low altitude their blood pressure is lower because there is more oxygen in the air.
Altered lung capacity
Their lungs are capable with living on higher and lower grounds, compared to the size of their body their lungs are reasonably large in order to survive.
Their lungs are capable with living on higher and lower grounds, compared to the size of their body their lungs are reasonably large in order to survive.
Permanent vs. temporary adaptations
The polar bear has white fur made of hollow hairs, which traps and warms air. Ultra-violet light is funnelled from the sun down the hairs to the bear’s black skin, changing it into warmth. The dense undercoat is covered with an outer coat of long guard hairs. These help to keep the polar bear dry and warm while it is swimming. To find out more about the life of polar bears visit our Polar Bear factsheet.
The polar bear has white fur made of hollow hairs, which traps and warms air. Ultra-violet light is funnelled from the sun down the hairs to the bear’s black skin, changing it into warmth. The dense undercoat is covered with an outer coat of long guard hairs. These help to keep the polar bear dry and warm while it is swimming. To find out more about the life of polar bears visit our Polar Bear factsheet.
Graph(s)
As we can see this shows that a strong correlation exists between blood oxygen affinity and altitude. deer mouse at high altitude exhibited the strongest blood-oxygen affinity, corresponding to a lower P 50 value and a shift in the oxygen dissociation curve to the left. The trend exhibited by the deer mice is similar to the llama; deer mouse have an increased ability to extract oxygen from low pressure areas. However, it is critical that the deer mice and llama not shift the oxygen dissociation curve too far to the left because that would result in an inability to release oxygen to the tissues.
As we can see this shows that a strong correlation exists between blood oxygen affinity and altitude. deer mouse at high altitude exhibited the strongest blood-oxygen affinity, corresponding to a lower P 50 value and a shift in the oxygen dissociation curve to the left. The trend exhibited by the deer mice is similar to the llama; deer mouse have an increased ability to extract oxygen from low pressure areas. However, it is critical that the deer mice and llama not shift the oxygen dissociation curve too far to the left because that would result in an inability to release oxygen to the tissues.
Habitat:Llamas live in semi-desert and scrubland habitats. They require environments with some vegetation; they predominantly consume grass, but will eat any plants and lichens they can find. Llamas are able to survive on very little water, and they typically live at higher land regions, about 5,500 feet above sea level, where there is less standing water.
Altered red blood cell count :
Llamas work at undiminished capacity at low or high altitudes. Their red blood cells (RBC’s) are elliptically shaped which increases the surface area available to hold oxygen. Additionally, the oxygen is held at a lower surface tension and given up more easily to tissue the RBC”s supply. This results in a greater percentage of the oxygen the higher capacity RBC’s carry actually being used.
Altered blood pressure :
Their blood pressure, because of the high altitude their heart has to beat faster in order to get the oxygen around their body.
Altered lung capacityLlamas have a larger lung capacity, so can take in more air with each breath.
Permanent vs. temporary adaptations
Llamas are frequently used by physiologists to study hypoxic stress due to their proven ability to live successfully at high altitude.Numerous physiological adaptations of llamas to decreased oxygen pressures have been found. The llama shows a shift to the left in the oxygen dissociation curve when compared to similar lowland animals. Specifically llamas have adapted by lowering the P50 value, therefore the llama will more easily obtain oxygen from a low pressure environment (Meschia et al., 1960).
Graph(s)
As we can see below the llama shows a shift to the left in the oxygen dissociation curve when compared to similar lowland animals. Specifically llamas have adapted by lowering the P50 value, therefore the llama will more easily obtain oxygen from a low pressure environment.
Altered red blood cell count :
Llamas work at undiminished capacity at low or high altitudes. Their red blood cells (RBC’s) are elliptically shaped which increases the surface area available to hold oxygen. Additionally, the oxygen is held at a lower surface tension and given up more easily to tissue the RBC”s supply. This results in a greater percentage of the oxygen the higher capacity RBC’s carry actually being used.
Altered blood pressure :
Their blood pressure, because of the high altitude their heart has to beat faster in order to get the oxygen around their body.
Altered lung capacityLlamas have a larger lung capacity, so can take in more air with each breath.
Permanent vs. temporary adaptations
Llamas are frequently used by physiologists to study hypoxic stress due to their proven ability to live successfully at high altitude.Numerous physiological adaptations of llamas to decreased oxygen pressures have been found. The llama shows a shift to the left in the oxygen dissociation curve when compared to similar lowland animals. Specifically llamas have adapted by lowering the P50 value, therefore the llama will more easily obtain oxygen from a low pressure environment (Meschia et al., 1960).
Graph(s)
As we can see below the llama shows a shift to the left in the oxygen dissociation curve when compared to similar lowland animals. Specifically llamas have adapted by lowering the P50 value, therefore the llama will more easily obtain oxygen from a low pressure environment.