This blog is devoted to BIOL 6988, a graduate level seminar in the biological sciences at Youngstown State University. While targeted towards graduate students, BIOL 6988 actively incorporates undergraduate participants in their scholastic endeavors in the biological sciences. This blog is intended as a educational tool not just for YSU students and faculty, but for anyone who wishes to contribute to an active-learning environment.
This week's seminar features Dr. Butcher with his seminar entitled "Are Sloths the Undisputed (Anaerobic) Kings of the Jungle?" Links to background readings are given below.
Sorry for the late post, the site did not update with my original post from Saturday.
Summary: Dr. Butcher presented a lecture detailing his research on sloths and what energy saving mechanisms they use. He provided background on the specimens that were focused on for this study, the sloths, as well as how this collaboration with the sloth sanctuary came about. He then showed the research that has been conducted over the past few years. Dr. Butcher mostly focused on the myology and fiber types of the sloths showing the varying amounts of each in sloth tissue. All these data sets, including but not limited to muscle architecture, myology, and Neuromuscular activity, that he is recording point to a system of energy conservation. Therefore, he poses the question of “Are Sloths the Undisputed (Anaerobic) King of the Jungle?”
Question: Do you believe Sloths to be the (anaerobic) Kings of the jungle. Do you think there are any other species out there that could compete? What do you think about the idea that Sloths go against this Dogma of Energy which was outlined in the talk?
When I hear “king of the jungle”, typically, I think of carnivores or the apex predators of the food chain. In this perspective, I would say that sloths are not so much the kings of the jungle as much as they are an easy meal for predators. However, Dr. Butcher’s way of looking at them through a metabolic and biomechanical perspective, I would say that he makes a good argument that sloths are well adapted to anaerobic metabolism. I had found it interesting that though both species were found to be to some degree capable of performing aerobic metabolism, which is more effective in energy production, both of the sloth species relied on anaerobic mechanisms for metabolism. At least among mammals they may just be the best at utilizing this form of metabolism as they have adapted to do so, and it seems appropriate given the evolutionary adaptations that the sloths have made that suits their lifestyle. However, it would be interesting to see similar testing on other mammals with somewhat similar characteristics such as koalas who, though more active than sloths, also have arboreal lifestyles and have a diet that is nutrient poor and are generally pretty lazy to conserve energy and see how they compare to the sloths. I think that only after comparing the capabilities of other species could we name the true king of anaerobic metabolism.
At the moment sloths may appear to be "(anaerobic) king of the jungle" but I presume there are other species yet unknown that could compete. whatever be the case, sloths are interesting to learn about with respect to diversity in species; morphology; and physiology. Being able to utilize both aerobic and anaerobic pathways for metabolism, sloths have greater advantage to survive in unfavorable environment than other species deficient of such unique features possessed by sloths.
From the evidence presented to us, it would certainly seem that sloths are the anaerobic kings of the jungle. After all, they have quite a unique and specialized process of life and how they conserve their energy. It's hard to say whether any other animal could compete, especially when there are so many species we have yet to explore in this aspect. But with the knowledge we currently possess, it's hard to imagine any animal outranking the sloth in its incredibly anaerobic abilities.
Based on Dr. Butcher's presentation I would certainly say that sloths appear to fill the role of (anaerobic) kings of the jungle. There are plenty of undiscovered habitats across the globe that may contain an even more efficient species, though. The ability of sloths to efficiently use both aerobic and anaerobic metabolism was interesting, I'm curious how they evolutionarily acquired this aversion to the Dogma of Energy.
I don't think they go against the dogma of energy, they aren't creating energy out of nothing they are just doing it in a different way than the most animals. After Dr. Butcher's talk i do think sloths are the anaerobic kings of the jungle and if there were to be anything out to compete it would have to maintain a similiar lifestyle. Dr Butcher presented that their lifestyle is very slow, everything is run slower than most mammals,so unless there is another mammal that has no need to go anywhere fast, there isn't going to be another animal that can compete.
As far as no research or study has shown otherwise, the sloth is the anaerobic king of the jungle. Probably with time as speciation occurs there will be emergence of new species of organisms that utilizes this form of metabolism as the sloths.
(anaerobic) kings of the jungle and anaerobic kings of the jungle are two totally different things. Anaerobic kings of the jungle are 100% sloths but the kings of the jungle are usually top of food chain like gorillas. Sloths conserve energy but move very slowly. They are very strong but again move very slowly. The sloths use the dogma of energy in a different way than normal. They use it anaerobically instead of aerobically. Aerobically results in more energy but anaerobically results in less, thus why they move slower this could also be due to the foods that they intake in their diet. But energy can only be transformed or conserved never created. So their food turns into energy, just not the way that we are use to turning food into energy. Great seminar and questions.
I really thought Dr. Butcher's comparison of sloths to horses was interesting in regards to their suspensory ligaments. I had never thought of the notion that sloths maintain their position on limbs without conscious effort, which no doubt contributes to their overall conservation of energy. They way mammals have evolved is incredible.
Sorry for the late post, the site did not update with my original post from Saturday.
ReplyDeleteSummary: Dr. Butcher presented a lecture detailing his research on sloths and what energy saving mechanisms they use. He provided background on the specimens that were focused on for this study, the sloths, as well as how this collaboration with the sloth sanctuary came about. He then showed the research that has been conducted over the past few years. Dr. Butcher mostly focused on the myology and fiber types of the sloths showing the varying amounts of each in sloth tissue. All these data sets, including but not limited to muscle architecture, myology, and Neuromuscular activity, that he is recording point to a system of energy conservation. Therefore, he poses the question of “Are Sloths the Undisputed (Anaerobic) King of the Jungle?”
Question: Do you believe Sloths to be the (anaerobic) Kings of the jungle. Do you think there are any other species out there that could compete? What do you think about the idea that Sloths go against this Dogma of Energy which was outlined in the talk?
When I hear “king of the jungle”, typically, I think of carnivores or the apex predators of the food chain. In this perspective, I would say that sloths are not so much the kings of the jungle as much as they are an easy meal for predators. However, Dr. Butcher’s way of looking at them through a metabolic and biomechanical perspective, I would say that he makes a good argument that sloths are well adapted to anaerobic metabolism. I had found it interesting that though both species were found to be to some degree capable of performing aerobic metabolism, which is more effective in energy production, both of the sloth species relied on anaerobic mechanisms for metabolism. At least among mammals they may just be the best at utilizing this form of metabolism as they have adapted to do so, and it seems appropriate given the evolutionary adaptations that the sloths have made that suits their lifestyle. However, it would be interesting to see similar testing on other mammals with somewhat similar characteristics such as koalas who, though more active than sloths, also have arboreal lifestyles and have a diet that is nutrient poor and are generally pretty lazy to conserve energy and see how they compare to the sloths. I think that only after comparing the capabilities of other species could we name the true king of anaerobic metabolism.
ReplyDeleteAt the moment sloths may appear to be "(anaerobic) king of the jungle" but I presume there are other species yet unknown that could compete. whatever be the case, sloths are interesting to learn about with respect to diversity in species; morphology; and physiology. Being able to utilize both aerobic and anaerobic pathways for metabolism, sloths have greater advantage to survive in unfavorable environment than other species deficient of such unique features possessed by sloths.
ReplyDeleteFrom the evidence presented to us, it would certainly seem that sloths are the anaerobic kings of the jungle. After all, they have quite a unique and specialized process of life and how they conserve their energy. It's hard to say whether any other animal could compete, especially when there are so many species we have yet to explore in this aspect. But with the knowledge we currently possess, it's hard to imagine any animal outranking the sloth in its incredibly anaerobic abilities.
ReplyDeleteBased on Dr. Butcher's presentation I would certainly say that sloths appear to fill the role of (anaerobic) kings of the jungle. There are plenty of undiscovered habitats across the globe that may contain an even more efficient species, though. The ability of sloths to efficiently use both aerobic and anaerobic metabolism was interesting, I'm curious how they evolutionarily acquired this aversion to the Dogma of Energy.
ReplyDeleteI don't think they go against the dogma of energy, they aren't creating energy out of nothing they are just doing it in a different way than the most animals. After Dr. Butcher's talk i do think sloths are the anaerobic kings of the jungle and if there were to be anything out to compete it would have to maintain a similiar lifestyle. Dr Butcher presented that their lifestyle is very slow, everything is run slower than most mammals,so unless there is another mammal that has no need to go anywhere fast, there isn't going to be another animal that can compete.
ReplyDeleteAs far as no research or study has shown otherwise, the sloth is the anaerobic king of the jungle. Probably with time as speciation occurs there will be emergence of new species of organisms that utilizes this form of metabolism as the sloths.
ReplyDelete(anaerobic) kings of the jungle and anaerobic kings of the jungle are two totally different things. Anaerobic kings of the jungle are 100% sloths but the kings of the jungle are usually top of food chain like gorillas. Sloths conserve energy but move very slowly. They are very strong but again move very slowly. The sloths use the dogma of energy in a different way than normal. They use it anaerobically instead of aerobically. Aerobically results in more energy but anaerobically results in less, thus why they move slower this could also be due to the foods that they intake in their diet. But energy can only be transformed or conserved never created. So their food turns into energy, just not the way that we are use to turning food into energy. Great seminar and questions.
ReplyDeleteI really thought Dr. Butcher's comparison of sloths to horses was interesting in regards to their suspensory ligaments. I had never thought of the notion that sloths maintain their position on limbs without conscious effort, which no doubt contributes to their overall conservation of energy. They way mammals have evolved is incredible.
ReplyDelete