Cheetah by Christina Petsoulis
The cheetah, coined as the fastest animal on land, has a body specifically built for reaching speeds of 75 miles per hour. The respiratory system, as we will further explore below, is especially important in this process and has evolved to fit the cheetah's needs (1).
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Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivoria |
Physiological Differences from Human Respiration
The respiratory system is very similar to that of a human, but is slightly enhanced in order for the cheetah to preform its abilities. . Enlarged nostrils, sinuses, lungs and heart allow the animal to deliver oxygen to its muscles more effectively (3). Respiration rate goes from 60 to 150 breaths per minute, which is twice that of human capacity (3). A cheetah's muscles contain a vast amount of fast-twitch muscle fibers, which consequently respire anaerobically. Because large amounts of oxygen are not readily stored in fast-twitch muscles, rapid respiration is required for a high-intensity output of activity. Duration of activity is limited to the amount of ATP that anaerobic respiration can provide (1). Although scientific studies do not explicitly say, it seems as though the adaptation for rapid oxygen flow in cheetah respiration acts as an overcompensating mechanism to ensure that although most of the muscles do not require oxygen, when ATP is depleted, slow twitch muscles will be viable to take over.
Steps in Respiration (essentially mammalian)
1. Air passes through enlarged nostrils and is warmed in nasal cavity/sinuses
2. Air passes through larynx and trachea
3. The air is split between two bronchi at the bottom of the trachea
4. Air moves down the bronchi to the alveoli where capillaries are located.
5. Blood passing through the capillaries discharges carbon dioxide into the alveoli and takes in oxygen from the air
[The air is diffused into the lungs where volume capacity is large enough to fulfill the massive needs of the muscles necessary for acceleration. The enlarged heart allows for an increase of blood flow]
2. Air passes through larynx and trachea
3. The air is split between two bronchi at the bottom of the trachea
4. Air moves down the bronchi to the alveoli where capillaries are located.
5. Blood passing through the capillaries discharges carbon dioxide into the alveoli and takes in oxygen from the air
[The air is diffused into the lungs where volume capacity is large enough to fulfill the massive needs of the muscles necessary for acceleration. The enlarged heart allows for an increase of blood flow]
Relating Article
Menotti-Raymond, M., and O'Brien, S. J. (1993). Dating the genetic bottleneck of the African cheetah. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 90(8):3172-3176.
The following article explains the dilemma we face today with endangered cheetahs. Due to Cheetahs' unusually low level of genetic diversity, they are more subject to extinction. Variability in offspring is low, therefore susceptibility to new pathogens and disease is high. Susceptibility can be lowered if the female mate with more males, therefore creating diversity in offspring. Menotti and O'Brien are looking at the Bottleneck Effect and its connection to the time needed for genomic DNA segments to rapidly evolve (3).
Menotti-Raymond, M., and O'Brien, S. J. (1993). Dating the genetic bottleneck of the African cheetah. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 90(8):3172-3176.
The following article explains the dilemma we face today with endangered cheetahs. Due to Cheetahs' unusually low level of genetic diversity, they are more subject to extinction. Variability in offspring is low, therefore susceptibility to new pathogens and disease is high. Susceptibility can be lowered if the female mate with more males, therefore creating diversity in offspring. Menotti and O'Brien are looking at the Bottleneck Effect and its connection to the time needed for genomic DNA segments to rapidly evolve (3).