When (low density) gas is released, the overall density of the manatee is increased (more volume is from the high density meat and fat bits instead if the low density gaseous bits) so the manatee sinks. Then, through digestion and such, gas inside manatee can increase, making its overall density lower and it floats. (Kind of like how ships float even though their made of metal, since the majority of the vessel is air, the overall density is less than water)
This is also how submarines sink and resurface I think, but they release and let in water.
Thank you. When I read about an endless cycle of farting, I expected some sophisticated organ for pressure changes or something, which sounded unlikely. Like the submarines, which reuse the same air. I would hardly call this a cycle. It’s neat nonetheless :-)
Cool. How does it work?
When (low density) gas is released, the overall density of the manatee is increased (more volume is from the high density meat and fat bits instead if the low density gaseous bits) so the manatee sinks. Then, through digestion and such, gas inside manatee can increase, making its overall density lower and it floats. (Kind of like how ships float even though their made of metal, since the majority of the vessel is air, the overall density is less than water)
This is also how submarines sink and resurface I think, but they release and let in water.
Thank you. When I read about an endless cycle of farting, I expected some sophisticated organ for pressure changes or something, which sounded unlikely. Like the submarines, which reuse the same air. I would hardly call this a cycle. It’s neat nonetheless :-)
Buoyancy, farting, or manatees?
https://www.animalsaroundtheglobe.com/fun-fact-manatees-use-their-farts-to-swim-7-166048/
Sure, but how does it work?
Fart to sink, and don’t fart to start to raise after a while.
I completely missed there’s a link too, sorry.