Design of instrumentation for metabolic monitoring of the Adélie penguin : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Physics at Massey University

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorRyland, Paul Stephen
dc.date.accessioned2017-09-28T01:11:57Z
dc.date.available2017-09-28T01:11:57Z
dc.date.issued2000
dc.description.abstractThe motivating question for the work described in this thesis was "How does the Adélie penguin cope with cold?" It was reasoned that the time-scale of temperature changes in Antarctica precluded all but metabolic and physiological responses. To determine these, a system capable of measuring and recording these biological variables in the penguins natural environment, was designed. A device, based on the principles of near infrared spectroscopy, was developed that could measure the relative oxygen saturation of haemoglobin and the reduction state of cytochrome oxidase as well as heart rate and blood volume. The completed device was housed in a black, waterproof, plastic container, measuring 65mm x 92mm x 25mm and weighing 132.7g. Co-ordination of measurements was achieved with operating system-like control software implemented in Motorola HC11 assembly code. Synchronous detection was used for signal acquisition and a pulse algorithm, implemented in assembly code, allowed real time pulse measurement from the input signals. Programs were written in Matlab and C++ to investigate the characteristics and limits of these techniques. Preliminary testing of the device on human subjects successfully showed changes in metabolic state as a result of physical activity. The results of field testing on Adélie penguins were unable to answer the original question due to a number of physical factors. However, the success of human trials suggests that, with modification and improvement, the device has potential as a valuable research instrument, applicable to a variety of other species.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10179/12091
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherMassey Universityen_US
dc.rightsThe Authoren_US
dc.subjectDesign Biosensorsen_US
dc.subjectNear infrared spectroscopyen_US
dc.subjectAdélie penguin -- Physiologyen_US
dc.subjectAdélie penguin -- Measurementen_US
dc.titleDesign of instrumentation for metabolic monitoring of the Adélie penguin : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Physics at Massey Universityen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
massey.contributor.authorRyland, Paul Stephen
thesis.degree.disciplinePhysicsen_US
thesis.degree.grantorMassey Universityen_US
thesis.degree.levelMastersen_US
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science (M. Sc.)en_US
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
Thumbnail Image
Name:
01_front.pdf
Size:
1.86 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
Thumbnail Image
Name:
02_whole.pdf
Size:
12.31 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
3.32 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
Theses and Dissertations