The aerobic dive limit: After 40 years, still rarely measured but commonly used

Abstract

The aerobic dive limit (ADL) and the hypothesis that most dives are aerobic in nature have become fundamental to the understanding of diving physiology and to the interpretation of diving behavior and foraging ecology of marine mammals and seabirds. An ADL, the dive duration associated with the onset of post-dive blood lactate accumulation, has only been documented with blood lactate analyses in five species. Applications to other species have involved behavioral estimates or use of an oxygen store / metabolic rate formula. Both approaches have limitations, but have proved useful to the evaluation of the dive behavior and ecology of many species.

Keywords: Blood lactate; Dolphin; Hemoglobin; Marine mammal; Myoglobin; Penguin; Sea lion; Seal.