PhysOrg Posted July 7, 2022 Share Posted July 7, 2022 Migratory birds have been called the super-athletes of the animal kingdom because of the remarkable endurance they display during hours-long, non-stop flights that can span thousands of kilometers. Their endurance is made possible by several unique physiological adaptations that allow birds to fuel long bouts of high-intensity exercise with fat rather than less energy-dense and less storable carbohydrates on which mammals rely. Now, a new study published in Scientific Reports is raising concern that a globally ubiquitous pollutant, methylmercury (MeHg), may be hindering the rates at which birds can burn fat during migratory flights and subsequently replenish fat stores during stopovers.View the full article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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