Does goose contain hemoglobin?
The Hb of birds and other jawed vertebrates is a heterotetramer consisting of two α-chain and two β-chain subunits. The major Hb isoform of the bar-headed goose has an appreciably higher O2-affinity than that of the closely related greylag goose (Anser anser), a strictly lowland species [13,29].
Why can the bar-headed goose fly so high?
Bar-headed geese can reach high altitudes during their migration across the Himalayas and Tibetan plateau because they can continue supporting the metabolic costs of flight as the air becomes extremely hypoxic.
Why does bar-headed goose migrate?
In the autumn, the bar-headed goose migrates from its winter feeding grounds in the lowlands of India to its nesting grounds in Tibet. Like Olympic long-distance runners that train at high altitudes, the bar-headed goose develops mitochondria that provide oxygen to supply energy to its cells.
How high can the bar-headed goose fly?
The bar-headed goose is famous for reaching extreme altitudes during its twice-yearly migrations across the Himalayas. These geese have been tracked flying as high as 7,270 meters up, and mountaineers have anecdotally reported seeing them fly over summits around Mount Everest (that are over 8,000 meters tall).
Can humans adapt to higher elevations like the bar-headed goose?
Exercise at high altitude is extremely challenging, largely due to hypobaric hypoxia (low oxygen levels brought about by low air pressure). Using implanted loggers that recorded heart rate, acceleration, pressure, and temperature, we found no evidence of training for migration in bar-headed geese.
Do geese fly upside down?
This goose has clearly decided to fly upside down. Photographer Vincent Cornelissen took the picture of the dark grey-brown Bean goose flying near the town of Arnhem, in the Netherlands. The picture shows the goose with its body upside down, twisting its neck and head around to its normal position.
Can birds fly over Everest?
Every year, millions of bar-headed geese migrate over the Himalayas and have been doing so for millions of years. They have been seen flying at 28,000 feet. They have flown over Mount Everest! The answer seems to be that bar-headed geese, like all birds—hummingbirds, ostriches, pigeons—have super-efficient lungs.
What do bar-headed geese eat?
Bar-headed geese are mainly vegetarian. They feed primarily on grasses, roots, stems and other plant parts, as well as on grains, tubers and occasionally seaweed. The birds usually nest in dense colonies.
What happens to the heart rate of a bar headed goose?
When O 2 is decreased from 12% to 7%, the Bar-headed goose increased heart rate by over 40% and CO by over 100%, while maintaining oxygen consumption. In contrast, oxygen consumption of the Barnacle goose decreased by 18% due to a 4% reduction in heart rate and a relatively minor 10%, increase in CO.
How is a bar headed goose different from a barnacle goose?
Similar differences in capacity are evident when comparing the response of the Bar-headed goose and the Barnacle goose ( Branta leucopsis; Figure 11.57; Lague et al., unpublished data). When O 2 is decreased from 12% to 7%, the Bar-headed goose increased heart rate by over 40% and CO by over 100%, while maintaining oxygen consumption.
How is the bar headed goose a long distance runner?
Like Olympic long-distance runners that train at high altitudes, the bar-headed goose develops mitochondria that provide oxygen to supply energy to its cells. This journey takes the bar-headed goose over Mount Everest, and the bird has been known to reach altitudes of 30,000 ft to clear the mountain at 29,028 ft.
Is there a bar headed goose population in the UK?
The feral population is believed to be declining in Great Britain due to overhunting. The bar-headed goose has escaped or been deliberately released in Florida, U.S., but there is no evidence that the population is breeding and it may only persist due to continuing escapes or releases.