Question

Pushing the Limits: Northern elephant seals are the deepest diving pinniped (Chordata, Vertebrata, Mammalia, Carnivora) and also undergo one of the most prolonged fasts of any mammal during the energetically expensive birthing and breeding season. Name 2 physiological challenges associated with each feat, and 2 ways they accomplish each feat physiologically.

Feat	Physiological Challenges (2 each)	Physiological Adaptations to Meet Challenges (2 each)
Diving
Fasting

Answer 1

The physiological challenges associated with the feat and the physiological adaptations to overcome those challenges by the elephant seals are as follows:

Feat	Physiological challenges	Physiological adaptations
Diving	i. Hypoxia ii. Lung damage	i. HIgh oxygen storage and Hb concentration ii. Flexible lungs, that can collapse and fill as required.
Fasting	i. Energy loss ii. Water loss	i. Thick layer of fatty tissue under the skin (used while fasting to derive energy). ii. Turbinate process (recycles moisture while breathing).