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EVALUATION OF MYOGLOBIN LEVELS IN THE LOCOMOTER MUSCLES OF FLORIDA MANATEES

Abstract

Diving marine mammals typically have higher levels of myoglobin protein within their locomoter muscles to increase storage of oxygen during breathhold episodes. The oxygen that is stored is used for ATP production to power swimming activity. With limited information on the levels of myoglobin in the swim muscles of Florida manatees, this research focuses on determining the quantity of myoglobin in collected locomoter muscle from stranded manatees of different age groups. Collected results reveal that the Florida manatee have lower swim muscle myoglobin levels than the more robust swimming juvenile bottlenose dolphin (4.74 mg/g and 25.84 mg/g, respectively). Furthermore, the myoglobin levels of Florida manetee calves are significantly lower than adult animals (0.603 mg/g) suggesting these animals are immature at birth and the concentration increases during development. Given that manatees are more slow-moving herbivores and myoglobin plays a role in energy storage, lower muscle myoglobin levels in manatees compared to dolphins could be a reflection of their less active lifestyle. However, manatees could also rely on other ATP generating pathways within the skeletal muscle to additionally fuel diving episodes. Future research will focus on further characterization of the development of myoglobin levels in other age groups of the florida manatee and also evaluate the roles of additional energy producing pathways (e.g. anaerobic respiration) used by the locomoter muscles to power swim activity.

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