Abstract
The respiratory behaviour and partitioning of O2 uptake between air and water were investigated in Polypterus genegalus using continuous-flow and two-phase respirometers and lung gas replacement techniques P. senegalus rarely resorts to aerial respiration under normal conditions. Partitioning of O2 consumption depends on the activity and age of fish and the availability of aquatic oxygen. Immature fish (12–22 g) cannot utilize aerial O2 but older fish exhibit age-dependent reliance on aerial respiration in hypoxic and hypercarbic waters. Pulmonary respiration accounts for 50% of the total requirement at aquatic O2 concentrations of about 3.5 mg · l−1 (or CO2 of about 5%) and fish rely exclusively on aerial respiration at O2 concentrations of less than 2.5 mg · l−1. Branchial respiration is initially stimulated by hypercarbia (CO2: 0.5–0.8%) but increased hypercarbia (CO2 − 1%) greatly depresses (by over 90%) brancial respiration and initiates (CO2: 0.5%) and sustains pulmonary respiration.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Babiker, M. M., 1979. Respiratory behaviour, oxygen consumption and relative dependence on aerial respiration in the African lungfish (Protopterus annectens, Owen) and an airbreathing teleost (Carias lazera, C.). Hydrobiologia 65: 177–187.
Babiker, M. M. & Rankin, J. C., 1979. Renal and vascular actions of neurohypophysial hormones in the African lungfish Protopterus annectens (Owen). Gen. comp. Endocr. 37: 26–34.
Boulenger, G. A., 1907. Zoology of Egypt: The Fishes of the Nile. Rees, London.
Carter, G. S., 1957. Air breathing in fishes. In: M. E. Brown (ed.), The Physiology of Fishes, Vol. 1. Academic Press Inc., New York, pp. 68–405.
Fry, F. E. J., 1957. Aquatic respiration in fish. In: M. E. Brown (ed.), The Physiology of Fishes, Vol. 1. Academic Press Inc., New York, pp. 40–67.
Gans, C., 1970. Strategy and sequence in the evolution of the external gas exchanges of ectothermal vertebrates. Forma Functio. 3: 61–104.
Hughes, G. M., 1976. Respiration of Amphibious Vertebrates. Academic Press, London.
Hughes, G. M. & Singh, B. N., 1970. Respiration in an air-breathing fish, the climbing perch Anabes testudineus (Bloch). 11. Respiratory patterns and the control of breathing. J. exp. Biol. 53: 281–298.
Jesse, M. J., Shub, C. & Fishman, A. P., 1967. Lung and gill ventilation of the African lung fish. Resp. Physiol. 3: 267–287.
Johansen, K., 1970a. Air-breathing in fishes. In: W. S. Hoar & D. J. Randal (eds.), Fish Physiology, Vol. 4. Academic Press, New York, pp. 361–411.
Johansen, K., 1970b. Introduction: cardiorespiratory adaptations in the transition from water breathing to air breathing. Fed. Proc. 29: 1118–1119.
Johansen, K., Lenfant, C. & Grigg, G. C., 1967. Respiratory control in the lungfish, Neoceratodus forsteri (Krefft). Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 20: 835–854.
Johansen, K., Mangum, C. P. & Lukkeboe, G., 1978. Respiratory properties of the blood of Amazone fishes. Can. J. Zool. 56: 898–9066.
Lenfant, C. & Johansen K. 1967. Respiratory adaptations in selected amphibians. Resp. Physiol. 2: 247–260.
Lenfant C. & Johansen, K., 1968. Respiration in the African lungfish, Protopterus aethiopicus. I. Respiratory properties of the blood and normal patterns of breathing and gas exchange. J. exp. Biol. 49: 437–452.
Magid, A. M. A., 1966. Breathing and function of the spiracles in Polypterus senegalus. Anim. Behav. 14: 530–533.
Magid, A. M. A., 1967. Observations on the venous system of three species of Polypterus. J. Zool. 152: 19–30.
Magid, A. M. A., Vokac, Z. & Nasr el Din, A., 1970. Respiratory function of the swimbladders of the primitive fish Polypterus senegalus. J. exp. Biol. 52: 27–37.
Magid, A. M. A. & Babiker, M. M., 1975. Oxygen consumption and respiratory behaviour of three Nile fishes. Hydrobiologia 46: 359–367.
Parker, T. J. & Haswel, W. A., 1962. A Textbook of Zoology, 7th edn. Vol. 2. MacMillan, London, 290 pp.
Pettit, M. J. & Beitinger, T. L., 1981. Aerial respiration of the Brachiopterygian fish, Calamoichthys calabaricus. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 68: 507–509.
Satchell, G. H., 1976. The circulatory system of air-breathing fish. In: G. M. Hughes (ed.), Respiration of Amphibious Vertebrates. Academic Press, London, pp. 105–123.
Sawaya, P., 1946. Sobre a biologia de alguns peixes de respiracao Genera (Lepidosiren paradoxa Fitz.) e Arapaima gigas (Cuvier) Bol. Fac. Fil. Cien. Letr. Univ. Sao Paulo 11: 255–286.
Singh, B. N. & Hughes, G. M., 1971. Respiration in an air-breathing catfish, Clarias batrachus (Linn.) J. exp. Biol. 55: 521–434.
Smith, H. W., 1931. Observations on the African lungfish, Protopterus aethiopicus, and on evolution from water to land environments, Ecology 12: 164–181.
Stevens, D. E. & Holeton, G., 1978. The partitioning of oxygen uptake from air and from water by the large obligate airbreathing teleost pirarucu (Arapaima gigas). Can. J. Zool. 56: 975–976.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Babiker, M.M. Development of dependence on aerial respiration in Polypterus senegalus (Cuvier). Hydrobiologia 110, 351–363 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00025808
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00025808