May 16, 2025
Scientists have found that grey seals have the ability to track the oxygen levels in their blood, enabling them to gauge when they need to come to the surface of the water to breathe. For their study, scientists carried out tests in which they modified the composition of air with different amounts of carbon dioxide and oxygen to study its impact on the seals’ diving behaviour. The study showed that oxygen affected the seals’ diving behaviour, with them staying submerged for a longer time when the oxygen was abundant. However, their behaviour remained unchanged with an increase in carbon dioxide levels. According to scientists, grey seals can come to the water’s surface at the right time as they rely on their body’s blood oxygen level monitoring system.
DID YOU KNOW?
The weight of an adult male grey seal can reach 400kgs.
