CT DICOM studies from: In vivo measurements of lung volumes in ringed seals: insights from biomedical imaging

This dataset supports: Hermann-Sorensen, H., Thometz, N.M., Woodie, K.,
Dennison-Gibby, S., and Reichmuth, C. In vivo measurements of
lung volumes in ringed seals: insights from biomedical
imaging. Journal of Experimental Biology. Marine mammals rely on
oxygen stored in blood, muscle, and lungs to support breath-hold diving
and foraging at sea. Here, we used biomedical imaging to examine lung
oxygen stores and other key respiratory parameters in living ringed seals
(Pusa hispida). Three-dimensional models created from computed tomography
(CT) images were used to quantify total lung capacity (TLC), respiratory
dead space, minimum air volume, and total body volume to improve
assessments of lung oxygen storage capacity, scaling relationships, and
buoyant force estimates. Results suggest that lung oxygen stores
determined in vivo are smaller than those derived from typical postmortem
measurements. We also demonstrate that—while established allometric
relationships hold well for most pinnipeds—these relationships
consistently overestimate TLC for the smallest phocid seal. Finally,
measures of total body volume reveal differences in calculated body
density and net buoyant force that would influence costs associated with
diving and foraging in free-ranging seals.