ISSN:
0021-9541
Keywords:
Life and Medical Sciences
;
Cell & Developmental Biology
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Heat production was measured calorimetrically in the turtle, Pseudemys scripta elegans, (a) while submerged and (b) while partially submerged and breathing various gas mixtures. Submersion resulted in a profound reduction of heat production (80%). This reduction was not merely a response to the dive per se, but depended on the oxygen concentration available to the turtle prior to the onset of the dive. Heat production while breathing gas mixtures with different O2 concentrations was unchanged down to 5% O2. At 3% O2, heat production was 50% of normal, and at 100% N2, it was 20% of normal. Uptake of dissolved O2 from water was found to be 6% of the O2 uptake from air by these turtles. These results suggest that following diving, there is a profound reduction in metabolic rate, but not until the O2 stores are depleted. This low rate is primarily anaerobic and only a very low oxidative metabolism can be supported by O2 extracted from the water.
Additional Material:
4 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jcp.1040670204
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