Re: Ornithodira, breathing with long necks

["James Norton" <JNorton@une.edu>]

Are there any other references in the literature regarding
pressurization of air sacs in birds?  This is an intriguing concept if
it's real.

JMN


>>> "David Marjanovic" <david.marjanovic@gmx.at> 04/13/2001 4:22:37
p.m. >>>

> What is actively transported that would keep these air sacs
inflated?
> Oxygen? Nitrogen?  Carbon dioxide?

I'm sure active transport of such gases (except maybe carbon dioxide,
but
this is rare in air) is neither possible nor necessary -- diffusion of
air
through tissue is a very slow process. About how the air sacs were
inflated -- I don't know either, but since birds can do it...