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In all species, cardiovascular fitness is a sign of good health. For these little flyers, endurance ..
. [+] comes most naturally. VO2 max (maximum oxygen uptake) is the maximum rate at which an individual can consume oxygen during intense exercise.
It reflects the aerobic capacity and endurance of an organism. Higher VO2 max values indicate a greater ability to perform sustained physical activity, as it shows how efficiently the body can transport and utilize oxygen. Elite marathon runners, for instance, might have a VO2 max ranging from 70 to 85 while the average sedentary person has a VO2 max around 30 to 40.
The higher VO2 max in elite athletes reflects their genetics, training and overall fitness level. Having a higher VO2 max is unequivocally good, as proved by a 2011 study published in Integrative Physiology . In this research, scientists selectively bred laboratory rats over 15+ generations into two groups: those with high intrinsic (inborn) treadmill running capacity and those with low treadmill running capacity.
They ended up with two groups of rats that diverged significantly in terms of V02 max. The high capacity runners averaged VO2 max scores of about 35 while the low capacity runners scored an average VO2 max of 25. Amazingly, the researchers found that the high capacity running rats lived 35% longer on average.
This squares with human research, which shows that low aerobic exercise capacity is a powerful predictor of premature morbidity and mortality for healthy adults. In fact, it is a stronger predictor of decreased survival than other risk factors, such as smoking, hypertension or diabetes. Humans have a respectable VO2 max compared to many animals, especially when considering our size and endurance capabilities.
However, we don't hold the highest values in the animal kingdom relative to body mass–that title is reserved for the hummingbird (at least among vertebrates), whose VO2 max is estimated to be around 100-200 while hovering but can go as high as 600 under certain conditions. Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Clues And Answers For Saturday, September 21 The ‘Future Of Humanity’—Elon Musk Reveals Details Of Secret Meeting With El Salvador’s Bitcoin President Amid Price Rally New Microsoft Windows Warning—You Must Never Do This On Your PC This diminutive bee hummingbird may well have the most efficient cardiovascular system on the ..
. [+] planet. The hummingbird has specific adaptations that allows it to push its aerobic output right up to what scientists believe is the theoretical limit for vertebrate animals.
Here are a few of the reasons why hummingbirds are nature’s true ultra-marathoners: These adaptations enable hummingbirds to maintain high levels of aerobic activity, crucial for their feeding behavior and overall survival. Does thinking about animals with incredible aerobic potentials inspire awe in you? Take the Connectedness To Nature Scale to know how your love of the natural world stacks up with others..
