Entraining the natural frequencies of running and breathing in guinea fowl (Numida meleagris).

Lung ventilation of tetrapods that synchronize their locomotory and ventilatory cycles during exercise could be economized if the resonant frequency of the respiratory system matched the animal's preferred step frequency. To test whether animals utilize this strategy, the input impedance of the respiratory system of five anesthetized, supine guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) was measured using a forced oscillation technique. The resonant frequency of the respiratory system was 7.12+/-0.27 Hz (N=5, mean +/- S.E.M.). No statistically significant difference was found between the resonant frequency of the respiratory system and the panting frequency used by guinea fowl at rest (6.67+/-0.16 Hz, N=11) or during treadmill locomotion (6.71+/-0.12 Hz, N=8) or to their preferred step frequency (6.73+/-0.09 Hz, N=7) (means +/- S.E.M.). These observations suggest (i) that, at rest and during exercise, panting guinea fowl maximize flow while expending minimal mechanical effort, and (ii) that natural selection has tuned the natural frequencies of the respiratory and locomotor systems to similar frequencies.