[Oxygen consumption of the Baikal seal during unrestrained swimming in a pool and diving of different duration].

In 7 male Baikal seals (14-49 kg) spending 60-90% of the time under water, swimming unrestrained in the swimming pool, the average VO2 ranged from 8.6 +/- 7.01 ml (kg min)-1 for a 14-kg seal up to 4.8 +/- 2.22 ml (min kg)-1 (+ sigma) for adult 49-kg seal. A short forced diving (3-5 min) induced no change of the VO2 level because of stored oxygen. More prolonged diving (10-30 min) induced a 2-3-fold reduction of general VO2 and accumulation of a considerable O2-dept. During 3-5 min, 50-80% of this debt is covered in the 1st phase of recovery. The rest of the debt is covered during 10-40 min, depending on diving duration, body mass and, probably, oxidizing of metabolites of anaerobic exchange.