體型龐大的野外非洲大象(Loxodonta africana) ,每日步行接近8-12公里。611Please respect copyright.PENANABOg8dpE18G611Please respect copyright.PENANAVb9SJQN7Re
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在非洲的和暖氣候下,行走無可避免會出汗,那麼牠們每日大概會流失多少水份呢?611Please respect copyright.PENANA7Zx68qPeUz
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(圖2)有科學家利用動物園的非洲大象作研究(Ref1),將D2O注入在麵包裡,讓大象吃下肚裡;611Please respect copyright.PENANADCBWnrK3xL
可以把D2O理解成為被標記的水份,從而可以區分本身沒有被標記的H2O水份。611Please respect copyright.PENANAwSUWiw0KRH611Please respect copyright.PENANAhKqZcEN2Ac
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讓D2O透過食物進入大象血液循環系統後,每隔24小時便會進行抽血動作,為期10日,透過量度D2O的流失量計算出水份流失率。611Please respect copyright.PENANAFAUFPqPt65
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(圖3)最後計算得出,在攝氏25度中,大象每日水份的流失量約為身體重量的12%左右。611Please respect copyright.PENANAUkAkDtik7r611Please respect copyright.PENANAxq35wfElL1
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基於是次研究對象為2000-5000kg的6隻大象,每日水份流失量的平均數為325升,最高可達516升。611Please respect copyright.PENANAHmqUNgseV6
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全球天氣逐漸極端化,野外大象將來能否從野外獲取足夠水份彌補所失水份,將成一大疑問。611Please respect copyright.PENANAf7FCeJIgqP
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有興趣接收科學資訊的話,歡迎follow IG: potatopigtongue。611Please respect copyright.PENANAPwLuHKHBXs
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https://www.instagram.com/potatopigtongue/611Please respect copyright.PENANAdIltP5Rwsc
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Ref1:https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.201155
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