Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Diving insects boost their buoyancy bubbles.

Philip G D Matthews1, Roger S Seymour

  • 1Environmental Biology, University of Adelaide, Adelaide 5005, Australia. philip.matthews@adelaide.edu.au

Nature
|May 12, 2006
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Oxygen supply through the tracheolar-muscle system does not constrain insect gigantism.

Nature·2026
Same author

How long limbs reduce the energetic burden on the heart of the giraffe.

The Journal of experimental biology·2025
Same author

The hearts of large mammals generate higher pressures, are less efficient and use more energy than those of small mammals.

The Journal of experimental biology·2024
Same author

Buoyancy Regulation in Insects.

Physiology (Bethesda, Md.)·2024
Same author

Born suckers: the cibarial pump of Philaenus spumarius scales across ontogeny to ensure functional equivalence.

The Journal of experimental biology·2024
Same author

Oxygen extraction efficiency of the tidally-ventilated rectal gills of dragonfly nymphs.

Proceedings. Biological sciences·2024
Same journal

Daily briefing: 'Cyborg' cockroaches breathe underwater with printed suit.

Nature·2026
Same journal

China boosts prestigious grants for young scientists - will it ease competition?

Nature·2026
Same journal

Incoming US science academy chief vows to 'double down' on research.

Nature·2026
Same journal

Author Correction: Synthesis of enantioenriched atropisomers by biocatalytic deracemization.

Nature·2026
Same journal

Electrodeposited self-assembled molecules for perovskite photovoltaics.

Nature·2026
Same journal

Neutrino's nursery found: the 'Shadow Blaster'.

Nature·2026
See all related articles

Backswimmers stabilize their buoyancy using oxygen from hemoglobin to maintain a stable air bubble. This allows them to hover in the water column without continuous swimming, aiding their predatory behavior.

Area of Science:

  • Aquatic Entomology
  • Insect Physiology
  • Bioenergetics

Background:

  • Backswimmers (Notonectidae) are aquatic insects that inhabit the mid-water zone.
  • They rely on a physical air bubble for respiration during dives.
  • Maintaining buoyancy is crucial for their predatory strategy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanism behind prolonged neutral buoyancy in backswimmers.
  • To understand how backswimmers regulate their air bubble volume during respiration.
  • To determine the role of hemoglobin in buoyancy control.

Main Methods:

  • Observation of backswimmer behavior in controlled aquatic environments.
  • Analysis of gas exchange and bubble volume dynamics.
  • Physiological measurements of oxygen levels and hemoglobin function.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • Backswimmers utilize oxygen stored in their hemoglobin to stabilize their respiratory air bubble.
  • This physiological mechanism prevents bubble collapse as oxygen is consumed.
  • Stabilized bubble volume allows for extended periods of neutral buoyancy.

Conclusions:

  • Hemoglobin-mediated oxygen regulation is key to backswimmer buoyancy control.
  • This adaptation enhances their ability to remain stationary for predation in the water column.
  • The findings provide new insights into the respiratory physiology and ecological success of Notonectidae.